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 Keyboard
From the Fitzwilliam Collection
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 120896
Edited from the autograph and the first edition
Wiener Urtext Edition + facsimile
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 462077
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 487407
für Oboe (Flöte) und Gitarre
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 130065
aus Sonate di violino a voce sola; Libro primo op. 3 (1652)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 137279
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 134454
for: 2 SBFL (VL) VC BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 161554
für Violoncello und Klavier
Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Cello, piano [2 cellos]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 1682180
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 282483
für Violine und Klavier (op. 5 Nr. 1/4/8)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 137493
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 130246
op. 5/3
for: Piano
Item no.: 356762
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238495
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311271
for clarinet, bassoon and piano (viola, cello, piano)
for: Clarinet [viola], bassoon [cello], piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 404264
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613308
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 207978
Version für Flöte und Orgel
for: Flute, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 113030
for: 2 bassoons
Ensemble score
Item no.: 178163
Band 1: Sonaten 1-3
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 200255
Frühlings-Sonateop. 24
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 356272
SONATE 251-300 PER CLAVICEMBALO LONGO, ALESSANDRO, ED
Band 6
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 389111
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 762646
Späte Wiener Sonaten
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 116517
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419268
for: 2 VL (VC) BC
Item no.: 327839
Transcribed for Vila and Piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 301925
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 166293
MusicPartner – Klassik zum Mitspielen
for: Violin, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 432931
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 382294
Suiten und andere Klavierstücke
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 379526
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 379147
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 379110
[CD: Continuo-Begleitung zur Solostimme Oboe]
MusicPartner - Klassik zum Mitspielen
for: Oboe
CD
Item no.: 150144
for: Piano
Item no.: 579790
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 556109
Band 1: Sonaten 1–4
for: Flute, clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, 2 playing scores, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1346465
[CD: Klavier-Begleitung zur Solostimme Flöte]
MusicPartner - Klassik zum Mitspielen
CD
Item no.: 385775
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 616002
Early Sonatas II
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin [flute], cello, piano [harpsichord]
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116497
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115323
Original pour violon et Bc
for: Viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 663239
Reprint
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 217872
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1689587
Music Minus One
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 326864
"Waldstein"op. 53
for: Piano
Item no.: 355962
Volumes I and II
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
2 piano scores, 4 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 767393
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