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.
Bärenreiter Urtext
previously 16,50 € (save 70 %)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 648451
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with German and English Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition, anthology)
Item no.: 498364
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], piano
Item no.: 354152
for: 2 violins
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 499293
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288600
pour le viollon et pour le clavecin
Volume 1: Sonata I (d), Sonata II (D)
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 272287
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 300923
(1–44)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 265340
for: FL (VL/ABFL) VA-DAMORE (VDG) BC (CEMB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581987
for: 2 cellos
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 404337
Camera flauto Amadeus 122
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 186378
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630393
Leineneinband
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401330
(Kreutzer-Sonata)
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160706
op. 17
for: Klavier und Horn (Violoncello)
Item no.: 139882
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 189530
Entstehung, Analyse und Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1008999
BMW 1027
after the viola da gamba sonata in C major
for: Cor anglais, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 628394
per il Contrabasso e Viola obligato
for: Viola, double bass [double bass, piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 695973
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 773700
Summer Sonata
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
Sechs Sonaten
IV-VI
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108976
Edition Schott
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351510
Edition Immer
Reihe VII: Kammermusik mit Trompete
for: Trumpet [oboe], violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351433
Heft 1: Sonaten 13-15
E-Dur, G-Dur, A-Dur
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 216883
op. 2
for: Harfe (Violine)
Item no.: 549540
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163191
for violin and piano
IMC 3201 is part of this edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161906
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 181037
für Altblockflöte (od. ein and. Melodieinstr.) u. B. c.
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 160553
Innsbruck, 1660
Musik am Hofe zu Innsbruck Band 1
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 157799
op. 1
Sonaten 1–4
for: Recorder [flute, violin, oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 160890
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 619645
Early Recorder Music by G.P. Cima & G. Frescobaldi for Descant (Soprano) Recorder and basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491047
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 312714
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 655272
Sonaten Wq 7578, Arioso Wq 79, Fantasie Wq 80
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 623273
Priestman V
Musica Rara
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 414171
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418404
per clavicembalo o organo
for: Harpsichord [organ manuals]
Music score
Item no.: 129264
Gestatteter Nachdruck (1928, Universal Edition, Wien)
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1203031
Flute Music
for: Flute, violin, viola da gamba [cello], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 117445
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 552363
for: INST (2-3) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 579419
Chester Woodwind Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279907
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200199
Hortus Musicus 139
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 122119
for: SATB Recorders
Score, Parts
Item no.: 457209
© 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
