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: Piano
Score
Item no.: 269263
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401377
for: Piano
Item no.: 184623
for: Guitar
Item no.: 183179
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164235
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 332796
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 192684
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
for: Flute, cello, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 173164
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 359691
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 378470
replaces HN 1312
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796426
for: Piano
Item no.: 356020
Performers' Facsimiles 138 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 490666
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 355057
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
für Altsaxophon und Basso continuo
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Single part Alto saxophone, 2 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 661456
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 290764
for: Flute, basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 393395
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015149
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161905
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 779238
for: 2 violins
Single part(n)
Item no.: 419697
for: Accordion, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 385816
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162649
Viola part with fingerings and performance notices
for: Clarinet [viola], piano
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 668131
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 669887
for: Violin, cello
2 single parts
Item no.: 129252
for: Viola d'amore, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 287857
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 778708
Op. 74
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 1027111
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 474372
Contempore
for: Descant recorder
Item no.: 190005
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Single part(n)
Item no.: 469553
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 562340
for: Electric organ
Item no.: 327408
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Item no.: 103560
6 Sonaten / op. 13 / Sonaten 4-6
Klavierpartitur mit Cellostimme
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Piano score, single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 681770
Sonaten 1-3
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Single part Flute
Item no.: 203253
Barockmusik für Sopransaxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, basso continuo
Single part Soprano saxophone (B-flat)
Item no.: 666455
for: Violine / Flöte, ZITH
Score, Parts
Item no.: 372983
Sonaten 1-3
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Single part Flute, Playback-CD
Item no.: 203262
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269494
Orchestra At Home 3
for: Organ
Music score, CD
Item no.: 494360
Corpus Of Early Keyboard Music 5/6
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 303820
Sonaten Nr. 4-6
for: Bass clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122694
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 159917
for: Clarinet, piano
Score
Item no.: 420097
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