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: Treble recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731384
from the edition of the works for violin solo by
for: Flöte und Klavier (Flöte solo)
Music score
Item no.: 795961
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 758462
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 591464
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276988
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276987
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276983
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276981
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276970
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276966
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276956
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276860
for: 3 trombones
Sheet music
Item no.: 596026
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594054
from "Essercizii Musici"
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723306
Edition Schott
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723261
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 723128
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 722515
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 723599
Edited from the Text of the Carl Maria von Weber Complete Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723444
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663269
for: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663267
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663264
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1341246
Hausmusik
for: Flöte (Violine) und obligates Cembalo
Music score
Item no.: 779648
for: 2 POS KLAV (ORG)
Sheet music
Item no.: 596186
for: Horn & Euphonium
Sheet music
Item no.: 593263
for: Horn & Trombone
Sheet music
Item no.: 593262
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593246
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593178
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
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for: Cello, basso continuo [2 cellos]
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 1639531
op. 10/2
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 728734
for: 4 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607637
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277112
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594718
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594714
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595309
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595292
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595288
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595267
Sonatas 4-6
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 754217
Edition Schott
for: Sopran-Blockflöte (Tenor-Blockflöte) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 754216
for: 2 Alphorns in Gb & Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271635
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272242
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272188
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272182
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272134
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