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.
Volume 1: Sonatas 1–3
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 1552254
"Kreutzer Sonata"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 764101
Volume II
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 764098
Vol. 1: Sonaten I-III
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 767317
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556327
H. 103–108
Opera Omnia
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 613000
Interpretation und Aufführungspraxis
Studienbuch Musik
for: Piano
Book
Item no.: 610156
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 618564
Volume 1
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 614779
(aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV)
for: 1. Violine (1. Oboe), 2. Violine (2. Oboe), Basso continuo (Cello (Fagott), Cembalo)
Score, part
Item no.: 621631
für Violoncello und Klavier
Bärenreiter's Concert Pieces
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 674553
für Klavier
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 673120
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 359722
für Klavier und Horn
(mit Alternativ-Fassungen für Violoncello und Violine)
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 359506
Musica Rara
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 218374
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 217357
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 192892
for Flute [Oboe], Violin [Oboe], Violoncello [Bassoon] and Basso continuo
for: 3 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 192867
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198153
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 198131
op. 3/1 und 6
for: Guitar
Item no.: 310847
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304514
for: Flute, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 305723
aus op. 4
for: 2 Blockflöten (SS)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 182708
Priestman IX
Musica Rara
for: Treble recorder [flute], oboe [flute/tenor recorder], basso continuo
Item no.: 212016
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 208868
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 159134
Hortus Musicus 274
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 158422
für Violine und obligates Cembalo
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 190082
Formant 3 – Constellation-Miroir
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 189601
für Altblockflöte (Querflöte/Oboe/Violine) und Basso continuo
for: Treble recorder [flute, oboe, violin], basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 161434
Heft 1: Sonaten F, C, B
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Item no.: 176841
for: Piano
Item no.: 169270
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 186316
Gitarre-Bibliothek Nr. 69
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 200166
Heft 1
for: Violin
Item no.: 200073
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 182310
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162947
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 162694
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162657
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162057
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 165301
für Bratsche allein
for: Viola
Item no.: 157898
für Violine und Bc
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 157172
ludus instrumentalis 002
for: OB VL HRN BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 108963
Band 2 (Nr. 4–6)
Universal Blockflöten Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 113850
The True Art of Baroque Flute Playing
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (anthology)
Item no.: 113628
Musik für Blockflöte - Il flauto dolce
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 113457
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