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: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220214
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220212
for: Tuba, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1227395
for: Tenor recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230914
for: Bass recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230913
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230891
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230875
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1224865
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277112
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: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287663
for: Treble recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287660
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287654
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287653
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287651
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287650
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 1287649
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287645
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287614
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295463
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: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290979
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290973
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290687
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290683
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290672
for: 2 alto saxophones, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1745632
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: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1266287
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1264624
for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1238738
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1226048
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1226046
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1226042
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1226037
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 687418
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1659556
for: 3 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281618
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 363782
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 269263
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