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: Harp
Music score
Item no.: 324138
Score
Item no.: 581424
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 556772
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 175491
for: Treble recorder
Single part Recorder
Item no.: 231098
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 461902
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551111
for: Cello, piano
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796779
for: Clarinet [2 Clarinets] and Piano
Score
Item no.: 257102
for: Musette [Hurdy Gurdy, Flute, Oboe, Violin] and BC
Score
Item no.: 263179
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263258
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263145
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 614538
Brüsseler Sammlung
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781179
for: VDG VC (CEMB)
Score
Item no.: 335097
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 420977
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1714949
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 122550
for: Flute, basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 393434
for: 3 Flutes [Recorders [A]]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174754
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part Clarinet (B-flat)
Item no.: 401291
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 166000
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 604038
for: ABFL (FL/VL)
Item no.: 228693
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 243671
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 770727
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 1044020
for: 2 bassoons
Ensemble score
Item no.: 767534
Buch
Item no.: 248832
for: Recorder, piano
Buch
Item no.: 482007
for: 2 FAG BC
Item no.: 482270
(Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Playback-CD (without sheet music)
Item no.: 323904
Edition Immer
for: 5 TRP STR ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 276151
for: 2 FAG (VC/VDG)
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 465232
Organum 5. Reihe Klaviermusik Nr 16
for: Piano
Item no.: 410447
for: VA HA
Score, Parts
Item no.: 140511
for: 2 flutes [violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632558
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 291991
Score, Parts
Item no.: 557386
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 223386
Performers' Facsimiles
for: VL CEMB (KLAV)
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 296510
for: Piano
Item no.: 555700
Neun Sonaten für zwei Violinen, Orgel und Violoncello/Bass (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: String orchestra, organ
Single part Organ
Item no.: 563824
Musicalady~Komponistinnen Des 18. Und 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 298816
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 586880
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 189813
Neun Sonaten für zwei Violinen, Orgel und Violoncello/Bass (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: String orchestra, organ
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 370576
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 419967
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