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: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781321
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 772913
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Item no.: 629786
for: Violin, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 305848
Werke für Streicher u. Basso continuo
Erstdruck
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304852
für Waldhorn (oder Englisch Horn) und Streichorchester
ars instrumentalis 018
for: Horn, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 300860
Performers' Facsimiles 88
for: 2 violins
2 Single Parts (Copy)
Item no.: 647656
GWV 711
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 649505
Bwv 1020
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1019489
for: 2 flutes [violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632560
for: 2 flutes [violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632559
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200283
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433659
6 Sonaten für Altblockflöte (Fl. , Vl.) u. B. c.
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 215825
for: 5 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433543
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551053
Maders kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 551014
for: 5 FL 2 VL 3 VDG (VA) ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 247857
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 238397
Die letzten Sonaten – Kritische Einführung und Erläuterung
for: Piano
Book
Item no.: 124176
for: 2 flutes, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419738
for: PART / MAND Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 279046
Op. 2 N. 8 - F.XIII-36 - Tomo 401
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263118
Op. 2 N. 3 - F.XIII-31 - Tomo 396
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263113
for: 3 saxophones (SABar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 606666
for: OB VL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 479373
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 350691
for: Violoncello, (Viola da gamba/FAG) Basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 461979
Sonaten 4–6
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 447062
Erstausgabe
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 576963
for: fürTrompete und Orchester
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 559153
Neun Sonaten für zwei Violinen, Orgel und Violoncello/Bass (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: String orchestra, organ
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 370577
Buch
Item no.: 251239
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score
Item no.: 349821
for: VC HA
Score, Parts
Item no.: 333370
Book
Item no.: 347500
for: 2 alto recorders, guitar
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 246175
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 488014
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Item no.: 462256
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Clarinet (B-flat)
Single part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 247499
Musik aus Ostbayern Heft 64
for: Violin, basso continuo
Single part Violin
Item no.: 372639
For two flutes and piano
for: 2 flutes, piano
Book
Item no.: 165594
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163690
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162654
aus "15 Sonate da camera"
for: Violin, basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 356686
Norbert von Hannenheim Edition, Serie I, Band 1
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1651304
6 sonate per violino e cembalo o viola da gamba
La voce dell'ambasciatore
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493492
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