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: 2 violins, cello [string orchestra]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3596
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4258
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4207
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2737
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4905
for: Cornet [trumpet] (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 241143
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108976
for: INST (2-3) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 579419
Gestatteter Nachdruck (1928, Universal Edition, Wien)
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1203031
Collection Hedwig Bilgram
for: Trumpet (C) [oboe], organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 200664
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491047
for: Harpsichord [organ manuals]
Music score
Item no.: 129264
for: FL (VL/ABFL) VA-DAMORE (VDG) BC (CEMB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581987
for: Trumpet, basso continuo [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3366
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 340421
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6086
for: Flute, harp
Score, solo part
Item no.: 388650
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 619645
Edition Immer
Reihe VII: Kammermusik mit Trompete
for: Trumpet [oboe], violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351433
for: Oboe [recorder], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 262044
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 414171
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 552363
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 122119
BMW 1027
after the viola da gamba sonata in C major
for: Cor anglais, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 628394
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 157799
for: Viola, double bass [double bass, piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 695973
for: Recorder [flute, violin, oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 160890
for: Flute, violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 115856
from "Der getreue Musikmeister"
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 173004
for: Flute, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 380131
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
for Cello and Piano
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214312
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 160553
for: Violin, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 623273
for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord
Volume II: Sonatas IV-VI
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116715
Musica Rara
trumpet part in B, C and D
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 343814
for: Bass clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284688
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 113253
Nach dem Originaldruck (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125011
Edited from the autograph and the original print
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 125009
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 217214
Flute Music
for: Flute, violin, viola da gamba [cello], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 117445
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200199
for: Saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113652
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 670231
for: Harfe (Violine)
Item no.: 549540
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 131957
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279907
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