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.
Denkmaeler Der Tonkunst In Oesterreich 153~Dtoe 153
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1672476
Nr. XII – XV, aus: „Erster Theil zweystimmiger Sonaten und Suiten nebst einem gedoppelten Basso continuo“ Hamburg, 1674
transponierte Ausgabe (g-Moll) für Altblockflöten
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5874
aus: Six Sonates Pour deux Flutes-traversieres sans Basse, op. 1
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 5712
für Altblockflöte und obligates Cembalo
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Score, part
Item no.: 674976
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1556230
for: 2 tubas
Parts (2)
Item no.: 648007
Band II: 5-8 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549108
für zwei Violoncelli
for: 2 cellos
Parts (2)
Item no.: 661104
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 766281
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1613223
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1566669
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1544273
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1012121
für 2 Trompeten (D), Pauken, 2 Violinen, Viola und Bc.
Partitur und Stimmen (Streicher 3-3-2-1-1)
Musica con Clarino – Originalkompositionen mit Naturtrompete/n
for: 2 trumpets, strings, organ, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351777
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 594081
... Concerto de' varii stromenti ...
for: 1–3 violins [violin, theorbo/ trombone/ cello], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 638568
für 2 Violinen (Violen), Stimmen Faksimile Performers' Facsimiles New York
for: 2 violins
Ensemble score
Item no.: 647679
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 640779
(2010/2011)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 634997
pour saxophone soprano (clarinette) et piano (2009)
Collection Jean Yves Fourmeau
for: Soprano saxophone (B-flat) [clarinet], piano
Music score
Item no.: 635639
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1021539
Volume 1 and 2
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669561
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Score, part
Item no.: 593102
VII. Suonate à due, Violino et Violadagamba con Cembalo, Opera secunda
Generalbassaussetzung: Angela Koppenwallner
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 659799
für Violoncello und Kontrabass
for: Cello, double bass
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 649499
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664002
With supplementary violoncello part marked by Maria Kliegel
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 665543
With supplementary violoncello part marked by Maria Kliegel
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 615743
(aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV)
for: 1. Violine (1. Oboe), 2. Violine (2. Oboe), Basso continuo (Cello (Fagott), Cembalo)
Score, part
Item no.: 621635
für Flöte und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 613301
op.5
H.109-114
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 613002
for alto recorder and Bc
Babell ms. no. 19
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 611961
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 611850
Tri sonáty
Music Forum 101
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 299699
op.83
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 624104
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with French and Spanish Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 618933
Einrichtung für Harfe und Flöte
Louis Spohr - Gesamtwerk für Harfe
for: Flute, harp
Score, solo part
Item no.: 328723
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 326613
Canzoni a una, Canzona a 3 voci (La Rubina), für Singstimmen oder Instrumente
Instrumentalwerke aus Il Terzo Libro delle divine lodi musicali
for: 3 INST (BFL/VL/VDG/ZINK/POS)
Item no.: 581833
Musica Speciosa
for: 2 VL 3 VA BC
Score
Item no.: 327497
Piano
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318863
String Solo
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318642
Piano Solo
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316817
für Blockflöte und Bc (Bc nicht ausgesetzt)
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 659047
Sonatas Nos. 1-3
op. 3
for: Violin, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 310761
Sonates 7-12
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 433748
Bb Tenor Saxophone with Piano Accompaniment
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 245574
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 553980
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide
![DL: M. Blavet: Sonata VI, 2 Floeten [Violinen/Oboen]](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/12/57/5712.jpg)
![D. Tchesnokov: Sonate op.47, Sopransax [Klar] in B, Klavier](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/39/56/635639.jpg)
