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
Item no.: 282594
für Altblockflöte und obligates Cembalo
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Score, part
Item no.: 674976
Musica Antiqua Bohemica I/57
for: Violin, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122605
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1613223
Volume 1 and 2
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669561
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401121
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418113
op. 2/5
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311055
for: Clarinet, bassoon
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279857
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 456946
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 1552693
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401214
Beethoven Gesamtausgabe, Abteilung VII, Band 3
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 745362
Beethoven Gesamtausgabe, Abteilung VII, Band 3
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 745361
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 602383
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 582834
Heft 2: Nr. 7–12
Flötentöne für junge Leute
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 130696
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 555132
for: 4 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 294958
for: Treble recorder
Music score
Item no.: 768663
op. 30/2
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 177021
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 1031339
Sonata terza in C & Sonata quarta in G
für eine Oberstimme (Violine, Sopranblockflöte) und Klavier
for: Violin [descant recorder/oboe], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 282510
Hortus Musicus
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Flöte, Basso continuo
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 122144
für Oboe und Bc (Bc nicht ausgesetzt)
Viva Vivaldi
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661988
für Flöte und Basso continuo
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 406881
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279352
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404559
Erste Sammlung
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 628807
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 358347
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1696398
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 555226
WoO 47
for: Piano
Item no.: 401226
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Item no.: 333467
(No. 1–11)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 202152
Nach dem Urtextop. 10/1
for: Piano
Item no.: 355949
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 901347
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 193189
La flute amusante
for: 3 treble recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419201
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 420395
Sechs Sonaten für Violine und Klavier
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 284543
K 458-506
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 10
Le Pupitre 40
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177122
K 358-407
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 8
Le Pupitre 38
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177115
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239534
for: 2 descant recorders [flutes/oboes/violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 238420
for: Viola, cello
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 305856
Git. -Cont.: Robert Brojer
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 394503
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 663875
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