One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
for Cello, accompanied by a second Cello
for: 2 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1669375
for Cello, accompanied by a second Cello
for: 2 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1669376
for violoncello and basso
for: Cello, basso continuo [2 cellos]
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 1639531
Notenausgabe des ersten Satzes der Sonate (Adagio)
for: Flute [violin], piano [harpsichord, organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 6831
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 6829
No. 4 A minor
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe, Violine) und Basso continuo; Violoncello/Viola da gamba ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749624
op. 138/2
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 761594
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 761495
aus: 6 Sonate per il Flauto Traversiere, op. 1
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6456
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6445
VII–X, aus: „Erster Theil zweystimmiger Sonaten und Suiten nebst einem gedoppelten Basso continuo“
Hamburg, 1674
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6408
aus: Sonates pour Violoncelle et Basse continue, op. 5
Paris, 1764
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6407
Op. 1 № 13, HWV 371
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6378
aus: 12 Sonate a Flauto traverso, Violone e Cembalo
Stockholm 1727
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6358
aus: Erster Theil zweystimmiger Sonaten und Suiten nebst einem gedoppelten Basso continuo
Hamburg 1674
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6344
aus: Sonate da Camera a Violino solo op. 2
Modena, c. 1694
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6343
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1496
A Flauto Traverso
aus: Huit Sonates pour le Violon et la Basse, op. 2
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6342
aus: Sonate a Flauto Solo con Cembalo, o Violoncello, op. 3
Venezia, 1720
for: Flute [treble recorder/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6320
op. 1
Leipzig 1873
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 6310
aus: XII Solo for the German Flute with the Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord
London, 1744
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6185
aus: „Sonates Pour la Flûte-Traversière avec la Baße“, op. 1
Paris, 1726
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6441
aus: „Sonates Pour la Flûte-Traversière avec la Baße“, op. 1
Paris, 1726
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6184
für Viola da gamba und obligates Cembalo
for: Viola da gamba [viola/cello], harpsichord
Sheet music
Item no.: 1065
op. 4 Nr. 3
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6161
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 732133
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 732132
aus: XII Sonate a Flauto traversiere solo è Basso
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6113
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 739604
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725497
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725499
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725498
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725160
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725161
op. 3/1
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 738195
op. 1/8
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 738194
op. 21/3
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725162
from: Méthode pour la Flûte
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725163
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Music score
Item no.: 746557
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Music score
Item no.: 746560
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 731769
op. 1/2
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731753
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731754
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725112
op. 5/7
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725111
Allegro, Rondo grazioso
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731709
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 724960
aus: VIII Sonate per cembalo, op. 1
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5866
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide
