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: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1020966
Hob. XVI:32
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690693
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1690517
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1670120
Schirmer Performance Editions
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1678143
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1670116
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1689882
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1689587
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1688001
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1645846
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1681164
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1681120
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678454
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678440
kritisch revidierte Neuausgabe
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1678171
über den VIII. Ton des Magnificat
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1678162
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1676678
for: Viola da gamba, piano [organ]
Score, part
Item no.: 1676676
(Zongoraszonáta)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1672518
aus "VI Sonates avec une Ouverture & Suite"
Sonate e Sinfonie con tromba sola 5
for: 2 trumpets (D), 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1671508
for Cello, accompanied by a second Cello
for: 2 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1669375
for Cello, accompanied by a second Cello
for: 2 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1669376
volume 1: Nos. 1–3
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 1668432
Nos. 4–6
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 1668431
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1645033
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1660329
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1656986
TWV44:1
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1655513
Norbert von Hannenheim Edition, Serie I, Band 1
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1651304
Band I: 6 Sonaten ABV 12–17
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 1651208
Band II: 6 Sonaten ABV 18–23
Erstausgabe
for: Cello, basso continuo
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1651192
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 1646183
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1646188
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 1646226
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1646186
for: 2 oboes [flutes/ violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1646184
"Kristina"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1645596
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1645102
Volume 2: Sonatas 4–6
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1642876
Volume 1: Sonatas 1–3
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1642877
for violoncello and basso
for: Cello, basso continuo [2 cellos]
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 1639531
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 1639338
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1639251
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1633829
The Sunken Garden
for: Double bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1632319
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
3 music scores (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615876
The Middle Sonatas
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 868762
aus "50 Sonate per due violoncelli Libro secondo"
Sonaten und Kammermusik für Violoncello
for: 2 cellos
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 1629133
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