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.
op. 5/1
for: Harfe und Violoncello (Violine)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 474668
Musica Rara
for: 2 cornets [trumpets/ oboes], bassoon, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 397405
Band 2
for: Flöte (oder Violine), Basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 394659
Bam 94
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Item no.: 421048
op. 2
for: Harp
Item no.: 553156
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493507
Popular Edition
for: Trumpet (C/B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 493470
Nos. 1-3
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 280068
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello ad libitum
Item no.: 351916
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello ad libitum
Item no.: 351904
(Urtext)
for: Viola, piano
Item no.: 285333
(Orgel)
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594671
Trompete & Klavier (Organ)
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593489
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 661835
Hortus Musicus
for: Violine, Blockflöte, Basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122188
Heft 2
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122162
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 197913
EMB Early Chamber Music
for: Cello [bassoon], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198378
Il Flauto Traverso
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 393442
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393348
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 393337
op. 1/8
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393332
Musica Rara
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 414186
/ORGEL (KLAVIER/CEMBALO)
REICHERT, PETER, ED.
for: TRP KLAV
Sheet music
Item no.: 598341
/ORGEL (KLAVIER/CEMBALO)
REICHERT, PETER, ED.
for: TRP KLAV (ORG)
Sheet music
Item no.: 598329
Frühlings-Sonateop. 24
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 356272
KV 330
for: Piano
Item no.: 356033
"Waldstein"op. 53
for: Piano
Item no.: 355962
Klassik
for: 2 Recorders, Viola and Basso Continuo
Book
Item no.: 395547
op.5
for: Alt-Blockflöte, 2 Oboen, Viole und continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581022
Sonaten 4-6
for: Bassoon [cello], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 583357
Edited by the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 601832
Nos. 16–32
Schirmer Performance Editions
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 578595
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 409280
Band 2: Sonaten 5–8
for: 2 flutes, piano
2 Scores for playing, Playback-CD
Item no.: 203243
BWV 1030, 1032, 1034, 1035
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 200499
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 200304
op. 22
for: Klavier (Cembalo), Flöte (Violine) und Violoncello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 549784
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 461193
from "Essercizii musici"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586179
Op. 1, Nr. 3 c-moll
for: Trombone, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1284149
Op. 1, Nr. 3 f-moll
for: Cornet (E-flat), organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1284145
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594083
and piano (organ)
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594052
Bb Bass & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593197
Euphonium & Klavier (Organ)
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593194
Bb Bass & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593157
Eb Bass & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593142