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: Bassoon [cello], basso continuo
Item no.: 483896
für Flöte allein
for: Flute
Score
Item no.: 206770
for: Cello
Score
Item no.: 305924
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263263
F.Xiv-6 - Tomo 478
for: Cello and BC
Score
Item no.: 263189
Op. 13 N. 4 - F.Xvi-8 - Tomo 470
for: Musette [Hurdy Gurdy, Flute, Oboe, Violin] and BC
Score
Item no.: 263181
for: 3 saxophones (SABar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 576083
for: Bassoon [cello], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122690
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 200234
for: Flute, piano
Single part Flute
Item no.: 203228
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459980
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Item no.: 493509
Performers' Facsimiles 176
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 485785
Klaviermusik 7~Organum Reihe 5
for: Piano
Item no.: 408279
for: 2 trumpets
Item no.: 408147
Early Ensemble Series
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Item no.: 363600
(Facsimile)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 340199
per clavicembalo e 10 strumenti
for: Mixed ensemble
Score
Item no.: 389716
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 420120
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 413509
for: Viola, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 780857
für Pianoforte (Cembalo) und Violine
for: Violin, piano
Score, solo part
Item no.: 654874
Gesamtausgabe 8
for: Violin [cello], piano
Item no.: 382851
for: Piano
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 382458
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1696118
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404587
for: 3 saxophones (AAT)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 265685
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 584994
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462555
Musica Nova - Music Forum
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1162503
Performers' Facsimiles (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 349376
zugl. Ausgabe für Horn und Klavier zum Konzert op. 120b)
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 420241
Sonaten 1-3
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Piano score, single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 203258
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 922237
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 560582
Vol. 1: Sonaten 1–6
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202206
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1004976
for: Violin, piano
Score
Item no.: 265174
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 853764
Sonata IV d-Moll / Sonata V C-Dur / Sonata VI h-Moll für Vl. u. B. c.
Erstdruck
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 282776
for: Organ
Organ score
Item no.: 382207
Sechs Sonaten
for: Violin, viola
Single part(n)
Item no.: 304482
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 393359
for: 2 Violoncelli and Piano
Book
Item no.: 163524
for: ABFL (FL/VL) GIT
Item no.: 215950
für 6 Trompeten, Pauken u. Bc.
Erstdruck
for: 6 TRP PK BC
Score
Item no.: 180139
aus: 12 Sonaten für 2-5 Streichinstrumente mit beziffertem Bass
Streichinstrumente einzeln oder chorisch zu besetzen
for: 3 violins, 2 violas, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 106067