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: BFL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 345493
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401378
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116551
Edition Schott
for: 2 cellos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279425
with marked and unmarked string parts.
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160396
for: Violin
Buch + CD
Item no.: 471903
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 189394
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223884
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 583653
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 360708
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 419147
for: 2 clarinets
Set of parts
Item no.: 394805
Based on the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 445130
Arrangement for violin and piano by Anton Diabelli
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666119
für Oboe solo
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 117666
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696016
Klarinetten-Bibliothek
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408341
for: Cello, Basso continuo
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 116074
for two Treble Recorders or other Melody Instruments
Hortus Musicus 245
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 122194
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 418035
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
2 music scores
Item no.: 208119
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 582833
Incl. Cello Version of the Horn Sonata op. 17
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 476246
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160098
nach dem Quintett op. 34
2 Exemplare zum Spielen erforderlich!
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 361062
(Pastoral)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 477749
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1681479
with the earlier versions of the Adagio according th the autograph. Edited from the autograph, the original edition and further early sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1670384
and Bc
for: KAMMERMUSIK TASTEN-/BALG- + HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE GEMISCHTE DUOS
Item no.: 1688139
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1657321
– Title on Special Demand –
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1658081
Sonate in B major Wq 125 | Sonata in B major Wq 130
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1672071
für Fagott und Tasteninstrument
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 662364
BWV 1016
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1020846
Ausgabe in B-Dur (transponiert)
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 646032
Cello-Bibliothek
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 299775
Heft 1
for: Violin
Item no.: 200073
nach dem UrtextHob. XVI:27
for: Piano
Item no.: 356015
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute
Music score, CD
Item no.: 348540
for: 3 treble recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419270
für Violine und obligates Cembalo
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 190082
Nr. 12-13 und "Trombetta Sordina"
for: Violin [recorder], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 372023
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418786
for: Organ Duet
Book
Item no.: 1668670
from "Essercizii musici"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1687978
for Flute [Oboe], Violin [Oboe], Violoncello [Bassoon] and Basso continuo
for: 3 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 192867
für Klavier und Horn
(mit Alternativ-Fassungen für Violoncello und Violine)
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 359506
op. 78
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 357555