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: VL FAG (VC) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 210841
für Violine, Violoncello u. Cembalo (Klavier)
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 207238
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 206865
Nr. 4-6op. 2
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Item no.: 206420
Musica Rara
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 210236
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 562811
Sonata 6
ludus instrumentalis 034
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 292200
for: Flute, harp
Book
Item no.: 311425
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 275852
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Item no.: 216539
Chamber Music Of The Seventeenth Century 12
for: VL (SBFL) VC (VDG) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 242416
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551121
WV 445/6
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: 3 cellos, double bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 226748
Score
Item no.: 567559
for: Violin, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 486824
10 Sonate a tre
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304620
"Didone abandonata"
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163130
Gitarre-Bibliothek Nr. 17
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 462539
for: für Gitarre
Item no.: 186459
for: Flute, piano
Book
Item no.: 179538
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 179488
for: Bassoon, piano
Item no.: 183232
for: 2 Fagotte (Violoncelli)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 155830
for: Organ 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 171991
K 306-357
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 7
Le Pupitre 37
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177114
op. 1, Nr. 3 & 4
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 469216
for: 2 ABFL (VL/FL) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174343
Opera VIII
for: 1 und 2 Violinen und Basso continuo
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 183744
for: 2 viole da gamba
Ensemble score
Item no.: 157424
für Traversflöte (Sopranblockflöte) und Bc
for: Flute, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 161014
op. 42/1
for: für Fagott und Klavier
Item no.: 158692
nach dem Dresdner Manuskript von J. G. Pisendel, Band IV
Band 4 Sonaten 10-12
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 462340
nach dem Dresdner Manuskript von J. G. Pisendel, Band III
for: Violine, Basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 462339
Zongoraszonáták 2
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 184761
Item no.: 613128
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [treble recorder], piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 218054
for: Flute, cello, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 318068
Die Violinstimme für den praktischen Gebrauch aingerichtet von Endre Gertler
Szonáta
A hegedűszólamot vonásjelekkel és ujjrenddel ellátta Gertler Endre
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 255336
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256104
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 257982
Piano Solo
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316669
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 314802
Performers' Facsimiles 125
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 314700
Piéces transcrites
pour Trompette et Orgue
Collection Marie Clair Alain
for: Trumpet (B-flat), organ
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 313412
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 612615
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 300733
for: Guitar
Item no.: 467486
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264151
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