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.
Oboe & Klavier (Organ)
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593484
Tuba & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593429
Trompete & Klavier (Organ)
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593252
für Trompete und Klavier
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594669
for: 2 bass-viole da gamba [cellos/bassoons]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 443225
Barockmusik für Saxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 776876
from Essercizii musici
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586178
for: Bass clarinet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233951
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684455
for: 4 Euphoniums & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1222144
for: 4 Clarinets & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1222142
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1668495
for: Violin, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1672006
Sonatas 38–50
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 640784
Posaune & Klavier
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 593222
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1299405
Op. 1, Nr. 3 c-moll
for: Tuba, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1284146
Sanguineus und Melancholicus
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 234212
for: 7 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 7 Trombones, Euphonium & 2 Tubas (5 Brass Choirs)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1636966
Richard Lane Series
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031422
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1024979
Single Works
BWV 841–843, 909, 951a, 965–967, 993
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 284524
Band 2, Nr. 4–6
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1351756
Richard Lane Series
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031427
Band 3: Sonaten 9-12
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 1346436
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1311344
für Orgel
Frutti Musicali
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 668267
Sonate in B major Wq 125 | Sonata in B major Wq 130
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696388
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695018
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695017
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696699
Gitarre-Bibliothek Nr. 17
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 462539
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 796877
Haydn Gesamtausgabe Reihe XVIII, 2
for: Piano
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 796638
für 2 Oboen und Bc
Partitur und Stimmen (Bc ausgesetzt)
for: 2 oboes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 429679
für Violine, Violoncello und Bc. (auch als Klaviertrio möglich)
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 443346
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 370474
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216964
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162282
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 160838
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Item no.: 216539
für 5 Flöten oder 4 Flöten und Baßflöte (Violoncello/Fagott)
for: 4 FL BASS-FL
Score, Parts
Item no.: 216265
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 154639
op. 42/1
for: für Fagott und Klavier
Item no.: 158692
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 165583
Archivkopie
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 115852
for: für Flöte (Oboe) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 113963
Hortus Musicus
for: Violin, basso continuo
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 135438
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