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: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404514
c-Moll op. 4, b-Moll op. 35, h-Moll op. 58
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 359705
Hortus Musicus
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122106
Volume II
1790–1805
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401309
for: Violin [flute], piano [organ]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 896552
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 370457
Diletto Musicale
for: Cello
Score
Item no.: 304642
Nach den Quellen - Op. 12, op. 23, op. 24 Band 1
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1558945
Originalmusik für Blockflöte
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420879
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 195034
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 211288
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1670488
for: Keyboard
Music score
Item no.: 1655291
Ed. A. Longo - Sonate 151-200
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 1659751
transcribed for two Clarinets
Revue pour la Clarinette
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1687804
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1689422
HWV 380-381
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin [oboe], oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1689243
Archivum Musicum Volume 85
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 675257
Geschichte – Formen – Ästhetik
Bärenreiter Studienbücher Musik 5
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 190452
for: Guitar
Score
Item no.: 254758
Musica Antiqua Bohemica 63
for: Piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 215716
Trauermarsch (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 125098
Volume II
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 133540
F.Xvi-4 - Tomo 75
for: Lute, Violin and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 262504
Musica Rara
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 179459
per viola e pianoforte
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314675
for: Baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1015324
pour flûte traversière et Bc facsimile
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 664454
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419191
for: FL FAG BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419045
für Violoncello und Klavier
Grüne Reihe Edition Peters
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 382334
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223190
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 245011
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 301256
Band 3: Sonate 7-9
Camera Flauto Amadeus 140
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Item no.: 297771
Concord, Mass., 1840-60
2nd Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 205397
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 378470
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383378
Violine und Cembalo oder Klavier
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLINE VIOLINE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 194207
new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690278
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164235
Band 2: Sonaten 3 und 5
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 419242
for Flute (Violin), Harpsichord and Violoncello ad libitum
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 177234
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 337518
Volume I
1768–1785
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401292
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1690834
"Sonates sans Basse"
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409253
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