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
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582650
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279909
Bärenreiter Urtext
previously 16,50 € (save 70 %)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 648451
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 601765
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108824
Russische Musik der Moderne
Revidierte Neuauflage 1998
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108789
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: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 769371
Edition includes both solo parts
for: Clarinet [viola], piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 431030
For Flute and Piano, Op. 23op. 23
for: Flute, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 228791
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 349266
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
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Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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for: Clarinet
Item no.: 286198
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
Edition without Fingering
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664057
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1479710
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 661684
für Violine und Klavier
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 636364
ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces 2016-2019
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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1-3, D 384, 385, 408
Urtext der Neuen Schubert-Ausgabe (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116944
for: BFL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 345493
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 344072
op. 8
for: Cello
Item no.: 124388
Edition without Fingering
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664059
für 2 Sopran-Instrumente (Violine, Blockflöte, Zink) und Basso continuo
Chamber Music Of The Seventeenth Century 7
for: 2 melodic instruments (C), basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 340386
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 343320
with marked and unmarked string parts
revised edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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(1–44)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
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for: 2 cellos
Score, 2 Single parts
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Camera flauto Amadeus 122
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
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for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
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Leineneinband
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401330
(Kreutzer-Sonata)
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
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for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 198510
"The Roots, (A Tale Sonata)"
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556995
for: Organ
Item no.: 201971
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200547
with marked and unmarked string parts
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401516
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696015
Great Performer's Edition
for: 2 violins
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 318084
Volume 1: Sonatas 1–5
Russian Piano Classics (Authentic Edition)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 197618
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 155799
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664646
Chamber Music Of The Seventeenth Century 5
for: 2 violins [descant recorders/cornetts], basso continuo
Score, Parts
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A sonata for two clarinets - one in Bb and one in A.
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279855
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