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.
op. 6/6
for: Treble recorder, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 377654
KV 19d
for: Cembalo oder Klavier 4-händig
Item no.: 289053
Heft 1
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122161
Heft III
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122128
Hortus Musicus
for: Viola da gamba [violin/ flute], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122065
M.S.3
for: Violin, guitar
Partitur und Stimme
Item no.: 119030
"Sonates sans Basse"
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409253
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401377
aus "12 Cello Sonatas" op. 2
for: Cello, Basso continuo, Cello
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117110
for: 4 VL 3 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 109193
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108212
Antiqua
for: Flute, oboe, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 101676
op. 1
for: 2 Blockflöten (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 106934
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284707
Opera VI
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 247905
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 279784
aus op. 40
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279338
HWV 359b, 379
for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Item no.: 113826
op. 10
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113403
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 763426
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin [oboe], oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 122193
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115325
Zwei Sonaten für Orgel und Orchester (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116475
für Bläser
for: Klarinette, FAG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 306370
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 404299
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
Das Blockflötenrepertoire
for: Treble recorder
Music score
Item no.: 413700
nach der Triosonate d-moll für Orgel
Blockflötenmusik
for: Tenor-Blockflöte, Cembalo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117694
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 378470
nach dem Erstdruck herausgegeben
Edition Schott
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 630906
Performers' Facsimiles 138 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 490666
aus "Méthode de Clarinette"
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 355057
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
für Altsaxophon und Basso continuo
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Single part Alto saxophone, 2 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 661456
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 290764
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015149
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161905
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 779238
for: 2 violins
Single part(n)
Item no.: 419697
for: Accordion, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 385816
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162649
Viola part with fingerings and performance notices
for: Clarinet [viola], piano
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 668131
in g-moll
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 669887
Vol. I: 12 Sonate Per Violino E Violoncello
for: Violin, cello
2 single parts
Item no.: 129252
für Viola d'amore und Klavier
Edition Schott
for: Viola d'amore, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 287857
Urtextausgabe
for: Cello, piano
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796779
Op. 74
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 1027111
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 778708
Barockmusik für Sopransaxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, basso continuo
Single part Soprano saxophone (B-flat)
Item no.: 666455
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