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.
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], piano
Music score
Item no.: 729706
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 731386
per Flauto traverso e Basso
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 756729
Pieces from Frescobaldi, Castello and Fontana
for: Sopran- oder Tenor-Blockflöte (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 731478
New edition after the Urtext
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 748208
QV 3:3.2
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Sheet music
Item no.: 2752
(Four Cities)
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 736940
Edition Schott
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 747659
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2872
op. 110
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 732979
transkribiert für Violine / Flöte und Violoncello / Fagott
(Orig. in B für Fagott und Violoncello)
for: Violin [flute], cello [bassoon]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3440
from Op. 1, Op. 2, Op. 5
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 743943
per trombetta sola et organo, ò gravicembalo
aus: Capricci armonici, op. 4
for: Trumpet, basso continuo [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3366
aus: "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4207
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
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759616
aus: Six Trios à Deux Violons ou Flutes et Violoncelle
Op. 7
for: 2 violins, cello [string orchestra]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3596
Kompositionen für Gitarre und Streichinstrumente
for: Violin, guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759573
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2737
aus: Il Quarto Libro de Varie Sonate Sinfonie Gagliarde Brandi e Corrente
Venedig 1642
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6086
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220461
aus: VIII Sonate per cembalo, op. 1
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5749
Edition Schott
for: Flöte (Tenor-Blockflöte, Oboe, Violine), Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 748144
Edited from the edition Paul Hindemith. Sämtliche Werke by Luitgard Schader
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 754625
Edition Schott
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 750012
aus: "Petites Sonates a deux Flûtes Traversieres sans Baße", op. 13
Paris, 1726
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4516
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749503
aus: "Il quarto libro de varie sonate, sinfonie, gagliarde, corrente, e brandi"
Venedig, 1626
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4654
Edition Schott
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 743375
aus "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3364
from "Méthode de Clarinette"
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 735672
from op. 40
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 754273
for: Flöte und Klavier (Cembalo)
Music score
Item no.: 754335
from op. 5
for: Treble recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 741999
Edition Schott
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 720968
Sonata facile, KV 545
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1257
(„Didone abbandonata“)
aus: XII Solos for a Violin with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord or Violoncello
Amsterdam, o. J.
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6045
degli "Concerti ecclesiastici"
Milano, 1610
for: Descant recorder [violin/cornett], basso continuo
Sheet music
Item no.: 3827
Edition Schott
for: 2 flutes, piano
Music score
Item no.: 739798
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759263
für drei Instrumente (Flöten, Oboen, Violinen)
for: 3 flutes [oboes/violins]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4911
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 732405
Edition Schott
for: Sopran-Blockflöte (Violine) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 727549
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1276
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749500
aus: "6 Sonaten für Clavier mit Begleitung einer Flöte oder Violine"
Riga, 1777
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 3817
G major, A minor
for: Flöte (Oboe) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723421