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: Flute, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 621542
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 253521
MADERS KLEINE MUSIKBIBLIOTHEK
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 631795
for: Flute, basso continuo
Book
Item no.: 332644
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 551104
F.XIII-49 - Tomo 529
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263236
Buch
Item no.: 251298
Vier szenische Sonaten für Darsteller, eine Sängerin und Kammerensemble (1994/1995)
for: Voice, ensemble
Score
Item no.: 579674
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200460
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 347179
Neun Sonaten für zwei Violinen, Orgel und Violoncello/Bass (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: String orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 370575
Book
Item no.: 363352
for: Flute, guitar
Buch
Item no.: 338104
for: Piano
Item no.: 408282
eingerichtet für Linkshänder
for: Piano
Item no.: 177260
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 551033
for: 2 VL 2 OB 2 FL BC
Partitur, Stimmen
Item no.: 621151
for: Mandolin, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 669724
per viola e pianoforte
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776035
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 383584
Op. 2 N. 9 - F.XIII-37 - Tomo 402
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263119
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264155
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264104
Klassik
for: Harp
Music score
Item no.: 324146
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271322
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269445
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 646782
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304564
Heft 4: Passionop. 30
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 115639
Concertino
for: 3 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 145709
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162289
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161892
Sechs Sonaten
Erstdruck
for: Violin, viola
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282722
Nr. 3 und 4
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108213
for: FL KLAV CD
SET
Item no.: 634419
Fontana Di Musica 54
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 168706
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 459819
Fontana Di Musica 53
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 168994
Band III: 9-13 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549109
for: 2 flutes [violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632555
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551105
for: Violin [recorder], basso continuo
Item no.: 458610
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 191519