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
Autographe Notenhandschrift im Faksimile; Beginn des letzten Satzes (Facsimile)
Postcard
Item no.: 348008
for: Treble recorder
Single part Recorder
Item no.: 231098
for one to for instrumental parts (violino, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, trombone, bassono) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009377
für eine bis vier Instrumentalstimmen (Violino, Viola da braccio, Viola da gamba, Trombone, Fagotto) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009376
op. 90, e-Moll
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255756
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255732
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 385094
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255570
"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
Stuttgarter Capricornus Ausgabe 26
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 482749
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 583326
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part subbass recorder in f
Item no.: 1655499
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part great bass recorder in c
Item no.: 1655500
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 378661
Fragmento fácil
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 311138
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458399
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458396
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461735
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459978
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672454
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459979
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 646782
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461733
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459980
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351865
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458400
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459981
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672453
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645003
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458397
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461721
Musik aus Ostbayern Heft 64
for: Violin, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 372650
for: String orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351858
for: String orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458398
Musik aus Ostbayern Heft 64
for: Violin, basso continuo
Single part Violin
Item no.: 372639
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461731
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 264149