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: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593098
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593028
Music Partner (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score, Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 432930
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 596490
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 595058
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594972
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594969
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594675
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593492
for: Horn, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593490
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593485
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 594056
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1272996
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 609614
for: 2 Soprano Saxophones & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1716505
for: Trumpet or Cornet, Euphonium & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1716502
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 378721
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420879
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 401740
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277217
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277213
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277123
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277107
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276979
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696697
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316820
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316806
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567558
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567557
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567549
for: Soprano saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567547
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567544
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567538
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295471
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295467
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290978
for: Bass recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290680
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290673
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290671
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290670
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287644
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287633
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287625
for: Piccolo trumpet, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1287623
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276976
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276963
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276957
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276881
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