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: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272245
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272178
op. 30/2
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 177021
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 164524
Music Minus One
for: Flute, piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 374012
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401214
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
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 1639338
HWV 365
aus: Sonates pour un Traversiere un Violon ou Hautbois con Basso continuo
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5381
for: Violin, Viola and Guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 477992
Volume 1 and 2
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669561
aus: "Sonate di Gravicembalo"
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5311
per Cembalo e Violino o Flauto
for: Violin [flute], harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 4562
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 256280
Zongoraszonáták 2
EMB Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 255909
Válogatott zongoraszonáták 2
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255157
Három szonáta
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 255136
EMB Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256477
for: Trumpet [oboe], baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 281704
for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233955
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233944
Beethoven Gesamtausgabe, Abteilung VII, Band 3
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 745361
With supplementary violoncello part marked by Maria Kliegel
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 665543
"Sonate facile"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666936
in G minor, G major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666058
"Spring Sonata"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 764099
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 663875
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Item no.: 333467
Woodwind Solo
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 228226
String Solo
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318642
Erste Sammlung
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 628807
Camera Flauto Amadeus 180
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 484001
and piano (organ)
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593026
String
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 475728
2 copies required
Kalmus Classic Series
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 763149
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597085
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597073
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597064
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 456946
aus: Sonate da Camera a Violino solo op. 2
Modena, c. 1694
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5434
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 193189
aus „6 Sonates à une Flute & une Basse Continue“, op. 1
Amsterdam, 1710
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Sheet music, audio files
Item no.: 5621
Priestman XV
Musica Rara
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 144108
Erstdruck
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 340183
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316445
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663273
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663257
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