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: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 461750
for: 2 violins
Ensemble score
Item no.: 197894
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122207
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 360551
for: Flute, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117641
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115326
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 115322
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 494126
for: 2 violins, cello [harpsichord]
Score
Item no.: 263108
for: FL (OB/VL) OB (VL) VC (FAG) BC
Score
Item no.: 261917
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 269261
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255734
Cello Library
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279362
revised edition
Paganini-Schumacher
for: Violin, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 204421
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 388689
for: Treble recorder, piano
Item no.: 420995
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394553
for: Bassoon [cello], basso continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 614788
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479643
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 130974
for flute and piano
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 683907
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1575387
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: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282797
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282785
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290978
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
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
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276862
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, 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
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