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.
Schirmer Performance Editions
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1678143
op.53
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1632462
Minghén dal Viulunzèl
for: Cello, basso continuo
2 Scores, 2 Single part
Item no.: 656494
Piano Solo
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316663
"In memoriam"
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031728
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031095
for Solo Violin
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 321456
Introduzione e Allegro con pavana
(Omaggio a Robert Schumann)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 773706
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776621
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 181051
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 775713
The Brass Press
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462149
“at the end of the century”
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 265548
for: 2 trombones [euphoniums] (bass clef)
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648011
for: 2 trombones (B) [tenor horns]
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648001
for: Flute, cello
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031059
Musica Mundi 3
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 159832
für Akkordeon solo
Collection du Jeune Virtuose
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 608431
Contralto e B.C.
for: Recorder and BC
Score
Item no.: 259780
Das Blockflötenrepertoire
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413699
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271323
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271312
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271308
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271303
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269420
for: Bassoon, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215568
Nos. 7 - 12
EMB Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 207310
Nach dem Erstdruck herausgegeben
Camera flauto Amadeus
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 498922
für zwei Violinen oder Flöten und Gitarre (Violoncello ad lib.)
for: 2 violins [flutes], guitar; cello ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 434086
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 456786
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 445836
from Trattenimenti armonici da camera. Opera prima (Modena 1700)
for: 2 violins, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 553788
for: Flute, piano [harp]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 553710
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 553650
op. 3
for: Klavier (Cembalo) und Flöte (Violine)
Item no.: 549968
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Item no.: 549898
op. 2
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Item no.: 549789
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 380211
für Violoncello und Klavier
Grüne Reihe Edition Peters
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 382334
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383378
Sonate 401–450
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 389114
dedicated to Joseph Haydn
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 581610
Movement 1
for: 9 Flöten und Kontrabass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 587064
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 603216
Volume 2: Sonatas 4–6
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1544010
replaces HN 1312
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796426
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 745644
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