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 melodic instruments (C/B-flat/E-flat), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 588281
Slipcase edition
ABRSM Signature
for: Piano
3 music scores, CD
Item no.: 554178
Tschechische Barockmusik 35
for: Trompete, 2 ZINK (OB), Streicher, Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 133934
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 467011
op.101
for: Piano
Item no.: 153825
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 401538
(1955–1963)
Formant 1 – Antiphonie
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 776842
3. Folge
Haydn Gesamtausgabe, Reihe XVIII, Band 3
for: Piano
Score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 745373
Critical Commentary
for: Piano
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 690283
Six Sonatas for Flute and Continuo
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 674109
(Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 401527
Hallische Händel-Ausgabe (HHA) IV/10,1
Hardcover
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 580824
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas 2
An Edition with Elucidation
for: Piano
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 888235
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas 3
An Edition with Elucidation
for: Piano
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 888072
Wiener Edition Alter Musik
Score
Item no.: 565593
zusammen mit Johann Heinrich Schmelzer ca. 120 Seiten
Score
Item no.: 310561
EMB Urtext
for: Piano [harpsichord]
4 music scores (Urtext)
Item no.: 1162474
Denkmäler rheinischer Musik Bd. 35
for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 1198954
for: 3 Trompete, 2 ZINK (OB) 3 Violinen, 2 Viole, Violoncello, Kontrabass Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 186161
Tschechische Barockmusik 36
for: Trompete, 2 ZINK Orgel / Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 137088
Klassik
for: 10 Wind Instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 133562
Wiener Edition Alter Musik
Score
Item no.: 310558
Le Pupitre - Heugel
for: 2 Violins, Cello and Organ [or Harpsichord]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268162
Denkmaeler Der Musik In Salzburg Bd 14
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 561971
Faksimile nach dem Autograph der Paul Sacher Stiftung, Basel
Mit einem Kommentar (deutsch/englisch) von Stefan Drees
Meisterwerke der Musik im Faksimile 26
for: Violin
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 772097
Sonatas Nos. 1–50
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
4 music scores (Urtext)
Item no.: 673609
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke (NMA) IX/25/1 (Gesamtausgabe, Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Complete edition, Collection, Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 116424
Facsimile of the Draft Score and Paul Sacher's Annotated Full Score Copy
for: 2 pianos, percussion
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 683631
Horn & Trombone Duet
for: F Horn, Trombone & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596641
Hardcover
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 930359
Style, Structure, Performance
for: Violin
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 863896
Orgelwerke, Band 7
Johann Sebastian Bach. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke (NBA) IV/7
for: Organ
Gesamtausgabe, Spielpartitur, Sammelband, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 460158
Hallische Händel-Ausgabe (HHA) IV/4
for: Violin, basso continuo
Gesamtausgabe, Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 601498
Beethoven Gesamtausgabe, Abteilung VII, Band 3
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 745361
2 Horns Solo
for: 2 F Horns & Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596642
Partitura
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 259324
1. Folge
Gesamtausgabe Reihe XVIII Band 1
for: Piano
Score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 216976
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke (NMA) IX/25/2 (Gesamtausgabe, Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Complete edition, Collection, Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 116425
Beethoven Gesamtausgabe, Abteilung VII, Band 3
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 745362
Edizione critica [Opera Omnia - Vol. 5]
for: Violin, [cello], basso continuo
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 277216
4 Sonaten für Flauto dolce und Bc, 7 Sonaten für Flauto traverso und Bc. Die beigelegte Flötenstimme bietet auch den nicht ausgesetzten Bc-Part
Hallische Händel-Ausgabe (HHA) IV/3
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Flöte, Basso continuo
Gesamtausgabe, Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 193112
Hybrid Edition Abteilung 1 Bd 2
for: Organ
Item no.: 277255
Per 2 Violini, Violoncello E Contrabbasso - Ed. Critica M. Giuggioli
for: 2 Violins, Cello, Contra Bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 642837
Hanns Eisler Complete Edition (HEGA) Serie IV/10
for: Piano
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 657983
for: VL KLAV CD (11)
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 615820
Band 1 Carl Maria von Weber - Sämtliche Werke
Serie VI: Kammermusik - Partitur und Kritischer Bericht
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 655408
for: ENSEMBLE BC
15 BDE
Item no.: 490615
Sonatas, appendix: variants
Halle Handel Edition (HHA) IV/10,2
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover), single parts
Item no.: 184694
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