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.
aus: Sonates pour Violoncelle et Basse continue, op. 5
Paris, 1764
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6407
for: Cello, Basso continuo
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 116074
for: 2 clarinets
Set of parts
Item no.: 394805
Sonaten für das Pianoforte Band 2, Bearbeitung: Franz Liszt
zen-on piano library
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 646618
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2445
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 177969
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 564570
Sibley Nr. 17 & 19
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 149760
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 583653
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 297748
Based on the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 445130
per trombetta sola et organo, ò gravicembalo
aus: Capricci armonici, op. 4
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3367
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 361062
op. 2, Nr. 1
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1421
Incl. Cello Version of the Horn Sonata op. 17
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 476246
für Viola da gamba und Bc (Bc ausgesetzt)
Teil der Ledenburg-Sammlung
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661067
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 419147
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282609
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 129967
(Pastoral)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 477749
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696016
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160098
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 212937
for: Flute
Score
Item no.: 152826
for two Treble Recorders or other Melody Instruments
Hortus Musicus 245
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 122194
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 289517
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 648851
op. 9, Nr. 2
aus: Quatrième Livre de Sonates à Violon seul avec la Basse Continue
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2861
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 360708
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Item no.: 200325
for: Clarinet, piano
Book
Item no.: 169832
Sonatas I-III
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116714
überliefert als Werke Johann Sebastian Bachs
for: Flute, harpsichord obligato, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 138748
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696692
for: 2 saxophones
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 101048
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401378
Piano Sonata C sharp minor. 1st movement
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 744180
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408341
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 753913
Arrangement for violin and piano by Anton Diabelli
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666119
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123569
Edition Schott
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 736916
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 117666
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 582833
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282544
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 659385
with marked and unmarked string parts.
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160396
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 148198
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