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
Item no.: 356017
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Item no.: 420798
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311055
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 687416
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 676702
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282802
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282801
for: Piccolo trumpet, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 599378
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595061
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594960
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594959
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594717
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 596011
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 594081
for: Horn, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595293
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595272
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597085
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597073
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597064
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269330
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269319
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269254
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269245
for: Duet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, Cornet, Horn or Violin & Bassoon, Trombone, Euphonium, Eb Bass, Bb Bass, Tuba or Violoncello & Piano (Organ) or Hapsichord
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265682
for: 2 Alto Trombones & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1745641
for: 2 euphoniums, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1745635
for: Brass Ensemble (12 Players)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1744722
for: 6 Trumpets & String Quintet or Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1744721
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272354
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272245
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272178
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272173
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272143
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272136
for: Horn, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272119
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272112
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663273
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663257
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230905
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230896
for: Soprano saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230883
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230879
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230873
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230871
for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233955
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233944
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1238736
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1258093
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