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: 2 violins
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 499293
pour le viollon et pour le clavecin
Volume 1: Sonata I (d), Sonata II (D)
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 272287
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288600
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], piano
Item no.: 354152
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 300923
for: FL (VL/ABFL) VA-DAMORE (VDG) BC (CEMB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581987
op. 17
for: Klavier und Horn (Violoncello)
Item no.: 139882
Leineneinband
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401330
Camera flauto Amadeus 122
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 186378
(1–44)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 265340
(Kreutzer-Sonata)
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160706
for: 2 cellos
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 404337
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630393
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 189530
Entstehung, Analyse und Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1008999
Edition Immer
Reihe VII: Kammermusik mit Trompete
for: Trumpet [oboe], violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351433
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 181037
Innsbruck, 1660
Musik am Hofe zu Innsbruck Band 1
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 157799
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: 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
for: INST (2-3) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 579419
for: SATB Recorders
Score, Parts
Item no.: 457209
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 340421
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 459448
Slipcase edition
ABRSM Signature
for: Piano
3 music scores, CD
Item no.: 554178
for: Flute, harp
Score, solo part
Item no.: 388650
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 131957
Zehn Sonaten
Band II: Sonaten 6–10
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 485584
The Platinum Series
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 486360
for: Violin, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418838
Sechs Sonaten
IV-VI
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108976
für Oboe oder C-Blockflöte und Gitarre
for: Oboe [recorder], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 262044
Edward Tarr Collection
for: Cornet [trumpet] (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 241143
TWV 41:36,g6,a3,B6 Tafelmusik III
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 217214
op. 1
Sonaten 1–4
for: Recorder [flute, violin, oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 160890
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 282000
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309581
Chester Woodwind Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279907
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200199
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 655272
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 773700
from "Der getreue Musikmeister"
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 173004
Hortus Musicus 139
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 122119