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: 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: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1713915
for: Clarinet
Item no.: 129919
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 129444
(Urtext)
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 285332
for: Guitar
Ensemble score
Item no.: 430426
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486923
Volume II
1790–1805
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401309
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 420980
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 356325
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 355952
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355423
for: Guitar
Item no.: 183181
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 188639
transcribed for two Clarinets
Revue pour la Clarinette
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1687804
Manuscripts of the Neapolitan school in first edition
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 1549642
A much acclaimed solo written for Robert Nagel
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Music score
Item no.: 666789
Reprint
Beyond the Waves
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1355868
für Diskantviola und Basso Continuo (Faksimile)
Shumilov Facsimile Collection
for: Viola, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 662835
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1549206
für Oboe (Fl), Violine, Viola und Bc
for: Flute, violin, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 183591
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1170152
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 551013
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 551102
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 140906
Uelzener Kuhlau Edition 14
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 483901
für Violine und Klavier
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 432973
Einrichtung für Harfe und Flöte
Louis Spohr - Gesamtwerk für Harfe
for: Flute, harp
Score, solo part
Item no.: 328725
aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil II
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 613603
for: 2 flutes, piano
Buch
Item no.: 303661
per organo
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 672434
für flexibles Ensemble - Ensemble ad libitum Band 126
for: Flexible ensemble (5 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 663702
for: Violinen (2), Cello, Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551156
Reprint
Beyond the Waves
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1343772
Reihe 3 Kammermusik Nr 34
for: 4 VDG
Stimmen-Set
Item no.: 326327
für Klavier
teilweise ergänzt, mit Fingersätzen
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661657
für Klavier
teilweise ergänzt, mit Fingersätzen
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661659
for Oboe und Piano
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 684961
Uelzener Kuhlau Edition Band 40
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 624266
facsimile
for: Piano
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 1655454
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1670488
for: Keyboard
Music score
Item no.: 1655291
Klassische Meisterwerke – in neuer Gestalt
for: Bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello
Score, 5 Single part
Item no.: 1340770
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 675254
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