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.
Hausmusik
for: 2 VC BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 459923
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 584382
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 1565283
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1209733
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 769642
Musik Des 17 Jahrhunderts
for: Violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Item no.: 375407
Die Musikbibliothek der Inspirationen Heft 03/2021
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 780417
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Piano score, single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 678141
Southern Music
for: Horn
Music score
Item no.: 817050
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 644849
for: KLAR (S-SAX) KLAV
Score, Parts
Item no.: 191556
for: Clarinet, violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 133710
Klassik
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 324198
Chamber Music Of The Seventeenth Century 10
for: 2 violins [descant recorders/cornetts], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 275352
for: Saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 261499
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 606937
(Facsimile)
for: Flute
Item no.: 606898
for: 2 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433355
Performers' Facsimiles (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 367168
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 419789
for: Viola, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 417969
Tschechische Barockmusik~Musik Am Hof Des Bischofs Liechtenstein Kastelkorn 78
for: 2 Trompeten, 3 Posaunen, Streicher, Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430909
Early Cello Series
for: VC (VL) BC
Item no.: 314783
Edition Immer~Reihe Kammermusik Mit Trompete
for: TRP OB FAG (VC) ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 373211
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
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for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458400
Lauren Keiser Music Publishing
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 780614
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part tenor recorder 2
Item no.: 634584
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420172
Quintette d'instruments à vent
for: 5 wind instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 635743
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 376557
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 678975
Edition Schott
for: Tuba, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 351511
KV 570
for: 5 Bläser und Kontrabass ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 429284
Heft 5: Nr. 10, Drei Sonaten
for: Violin, bassoon, basso continuo
Item no.: 241395
Symphoniae sex senaeque Sonatae
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 243668
Vol. 1: Sonatas 1–6
Set of parts
Item no.: 1204096
Music for Recorder R 166
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 635699
for: für 5 Blockflöten (2S,A,T,B)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 113145
Six Sonatas
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 192050
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162644
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163691
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 107934
for: Violin, piano
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Musiche Varie Musik Des 17 Jahrhunderts
for: 3 VL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 369097
for: ENSEMBLE BC
15 BDE
Item no.: 490615