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: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282791
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282789
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282786
for: Treble recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290682
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276873
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276866
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276858
for: 4 Bassoons & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1278895
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1297312
for: Soprano saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281624
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287661
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290986
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317313
Klassik
for: Flute Viola Harp
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493440
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 577577
for: 3 clarinets (trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 643033
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 769914
for: für Flöte,Oboe,Klarinette und Fagott
Score
Item no.: 413054
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 378290
K.208, K.380
for: Guitar
Item no.: 473439
Full score and part
for: Klarinette, Klavier
Item no.: 472681
String Solo
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316274
Sonata 34, K232 - Sonata 67, K444
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318568
Autographe Notenhandschrift im Faksimile; Beginn des letzten Satzes (Facsimile)
Postcard
Item no.: 348008
Sonaten 1-3
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 393373
Bearbeitet nach der 2. Orgelsonate für Blechbläserquintett
for: 2 Trompeten, Horn, Posaune, Tuba
Score
Item no.: 352965
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264157
F.Xiii-10 - Tomo 368
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263070
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269430
Klassik
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 269411
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269402
Szólószonáta hegedűre
First edition
EMB Contemporary Music
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 851014
Szólószonáta
EMB Contemporary Music
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 850842
Szonáta D-dúr
for: Viola da gamba [viola/cello], violone [cello/double bass], harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 850834
Neuausgabe nach den Autographen (Urtext)
for: Viola, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 1556137
No. 10-12
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
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Klavierbegleitung
for: Flute, piano
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 203230
Zongoraszonáta G-dúr op. 49/2
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 193208
Per Flauto Contralto, Clarinetto E Trio D'Archi
for: Quintet
Score
Item no.: 247056
Musica Rara
for: 2 SBFL (FL/OB) VC
Item no.: 171043
for: Piano
Item no.: 401117
aus "10 Sonate da chiesa"
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 186180
Urtext (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 129990
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 288999
K. 13 (Longo 486)
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5554
aus: XII Sonate à Violoncello Solo e Basso Continuo
Amsterdam, 1736
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5828
aus: Erster Theil zweystimmiger Sonaten und Suiten nebst einem gedoppelten Basso continuo
Hamburg 1674
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6344
bearbeitet für Alt-Saxophon und Klavier
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 2205
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