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: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597083
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1272996
for: 2 euphoniums
Sheet music
Item no.: 593257
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593253
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593186
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593183
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593169
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593155
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, 2 solo parts (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 593139
for: Horn, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593138
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593105
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593098
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593028
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]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 594056
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: Violin, guitar
Music score
Item no.: 779934
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595321
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595286
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595265
for: Trombone [alto trombone], organ
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 595188
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 595058
for flute and piano
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 739796
for: Treble recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233948
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233942
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233934
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220227
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220205
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220109
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220108
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220361
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220360
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 401740
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 596490
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], organ
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4533
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4320
for: Clarinet (B-flat), bassoon
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3441
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 6310
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4865
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4819
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4614
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2824
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1964
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1948
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