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: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696701
Heft 2: Sonaten 4-6 ("La Beaumont" C-Dur, "La Persan" G-Dur, "La Simianne" G-Dur)
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 419152
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796412
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 418885
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401295
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418508
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 461232
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214091
op. 25/3
for: Cello
Item no.: 287816
with marked and unmarked string parts
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 609180
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401343
bearbeitet für Föte und Klavier
The Flute Collection
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 683770
Sonata facile
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369722
für Flöte und Klavier
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 382396
Summer Sonata
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
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
Slipcase edition
ABRSM Signature
for: Piano
3 music scores, CD
Item no.: 554178
for: Violin, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418838
from "Der getreue Musikmeister"
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 173004
Nach dem Originaldruck (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125011
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
Version for Arpeggione and Piano
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 666174
TWV 41:36,g6,a3,B6 Tafelmusik III
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 217214
for Cello and Piano
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214312
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 282000
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309581
Edited from the autograph and the original print
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 125009
(Facile)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401130
(Moonlight)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613304
Chester Woodwind Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279907
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404283
nach den Quellen herausgegeben
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 670231
Edition Schott Einzelausgabe
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 356103
Edition Schott
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351510
Musica Allegra 16
for: Cello, piano [2 cellos]
Item no.: 326836
Komponistenportraits
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 124498
for: Guitar
Item no.: 418643
Il Flauto Traverso
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 194702
for: FL OB-DAMORE (VL) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418041
for Violoncello and Piano (2nd Violoncello)
for: Cello, piano [2 cellos]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 664663
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 692286
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 287791
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 378897
für präpariertes Klavier
Maro Ajemian gewidmet
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 381843
Trompete & Klavier (Organ)
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593191
"Grande Sonate Pathétique"
Neuausgabe 2019
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 687596
Studien-Edition
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613329
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