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.
Hob. XVI:32
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690693
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1688001
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1681120
volume 1: Nos. 1–3
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 1668432
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1660329
"Kristina"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1645596
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1645102
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
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582650
"Genzinger"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582649
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582652
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1566669
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1544273
for: Violin, piano [guitar]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1559867
Vol. 2: Sonatas 7–12
Score
Item no.: 1559202
Nach den Quellen - Op. 12, op. 23, op. 24 Band 1
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1558945
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1556858
Op. post. 147 - D 575
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1552160
Perahia-Ausgabe
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1551832
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1544281
Band 1
Perahia-Ausgabe
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1549906
Band I: 1-4 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549098
Urtextausgabe
for: 2 cellos [bassoons]
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 1479628
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479649
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479643
revised edition
replaces HN 357
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1351876
The Early Sonatas
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1349794
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331548
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331549
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317313
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317312
Alan Gray (1855-1935)
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1316866
6 sonatas
Early Music
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1209633
Early Music
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1209634
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796412
BWV 1016
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1020846
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1017952
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1012912
for: Baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1015324
Print on demand
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 797056
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796433
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796413
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796410
Edited from the autograph by Peter Hauschild and Jochen Reutter
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796362
after Richard Strauss
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776690
Urtext from the New Bach Edition – Revised (NBArev)
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 773593
edition with piano score, unmarked performance score (vc/bass) and marked part (vc)
for: Cello, double bass [piano]
Piano score, ensemble score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 773563
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 773506
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