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: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287648
for: Bass recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287629
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287621
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287618
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287616
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287613
for: Double bass, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287610
HWV 380-381
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin [oboe], oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 313109
Reprint
for: Bassoon [cello], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 746341
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 776985
op. 26
for: Piano 4 hands
Score
Item no.: 345750
for: 2 Fagotte (Violoncelli)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 155830
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115324
Bd. I: 1-3
for: Violine, Basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 552445
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
nach dem Dresdner Manuskript von J. G. Pisendel, Band II
Band 2 Sonaten 4-6
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 462338
Universal Querflöten Edition
BWV 1020, 1031
for: Flute, harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 113824
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287664
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 284666
Volume 3
Studien-Edition
for: Piano
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1689262
for Euphonium and Piano
for: Euphonium, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 372290
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 200525
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272175
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567559
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567555
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567554
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567551
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567543
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567542
for: Piccolo, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290989
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290981
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290970
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282798
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282794
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220476
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220471
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220371
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220232
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220206
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220204
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220130
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220126
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220105
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272139
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272132
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272111
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272110