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: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424021
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 424026
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424024
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424023
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Single part Cello
Item no.: 424025
für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen, Violone und Baß
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623251
for: Trombone
Single part
Item no.: 493706
Epistle Sonata for the Coronation Mass
Urtext Stuttgarter Mozart-Ausgaben
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372614
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723144
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 734244
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726363
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726362
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726361
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723140
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 756273
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 756172
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 761495
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723147
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723139
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723143
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759626
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723146
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 756171
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 756173
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 734222
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759627
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 734221
Autographe Notenhandschrift im Faksimile; Beginn des letzten Satzes (Facsimile)
Postcard
Item no.: 348008
aus: "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4207
aus: VIII Sonate per cembalo, op. 1
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5749
aus "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3364
Notenausgabe des ersten Satzes der Sonate (Adagio)
for: Flute [violin], piano [harpsichord, organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 6831
aus "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba"
Frankfurt, 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5217
K. 87 (Longo 33)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3966
K. 9 (Longo 413)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3193
K. 159 (Longo 104)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1964
aus: "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4320
aus: "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4195
K 398
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4819
K. 13 (Longo 486)
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5554
K. 420 (Longo S. 2)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2537
für Violine und Bass (Violoncello), KV 46e
for: Violin, cello
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 3506
aus: "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4258
aus: Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba
Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4905
aus "XXVII Sonatas Para Clave"
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2161
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1496
aus: "Petites Sonates a deux Flûtes Traversieres sans Baße", op. 13
Paris, 1726
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4659
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