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: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 4829
for: 2 cellos
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2163
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1954
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223190
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 401437
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 389114
for: 2 Violins and Cello [Basso Continuo]
Score
Item no.: 263109
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 359691
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 358212
for: Violin, guitar
Partitur und Stimme
Item no.: 119030
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 389113
for: Clarinet (B-flat)
Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 224283
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393341
for: Lute, Violin and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 262504
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263261
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 257316
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Item no.: 297771
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 378470
for: 9 Flöten und Kontrabass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 587064
for: Cello, Basso continuo, Cello
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117110
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122128
for: Viola da gamba [violin/ flute], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122065
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 630906
Nach dem Erstdruck herausgegeben
Camera flauto Amadeus
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 498922
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 763426
TWV 41:C2,F2,f1,B3
from "Der Getreue Musikmeister"
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 200575
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411733
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 411130
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781159
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401377
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115325
for: Violin [oboe], oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 122193
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678454
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score
Item no.: 358306
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 190452
Zwei Sonaten für Orgel und Orchester (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116475
Volume I
1768–1785
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401292
for: Violin, cello [viola]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661195
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 585814
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 584629
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 238277
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238445
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238444
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 608431
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122161
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with French and Spanish Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 640884
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279338
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 620980
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