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, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268916
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268905
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 155131
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177122
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 359799
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 266368
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1696398
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318863
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 688580
G major BWV 1021 and e minor 1023
for violin and guitar
for: Violin, guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 1738820
for: Piano
Item no.: 605968
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 743922
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 1670338
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1676744
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 446082
for: VA 2 HRN VC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 442669
– ohne Aussetzung des B.c. –
for: Violin [recorder], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216134
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 216684
for: Violin, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 486825
für Klavier
teilweise ergänzt, mit Fingersätzen
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661663
for: Euphonium, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556646
für Viola da gamba, Violine und Basso continuo (Bc nicht ausgesetzt)
Teil der Ledenburg-Sammlung
for: Violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 669459
for: Woodwind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 499461
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1351343
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1551905
for: Violin, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009371
Reprint
Beyond the Waves
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1343773
for: FL VL VA BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 123292
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200286
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200663
für Harfe, Violine und Basso
for: Violin, cello, harp
Score, Parts
Item no.: 622598
Collegium Musicum - Koelner Reihe Alter Musik
Item no.: 618320
for: Flute, cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 1562163
Clarinette Et Piano - Astree
for: Clarinet, piano
Book
Item no.: 1667626
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 495458
aus „Sonatae XII pro diversis instruments...”
op. 1, Amsterdam 1688
Heft 3
for: Violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493490
"Die Kuckuckssonate"
Quatorze Sonate
for: Trumpet [oboe], organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 291875
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Item no.: 426030
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 161104
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 577907
for: Piano
Item no.: 408281
for: Flöte / Oboe /Blockflöte) Basso continuo
Item no.: 384926
Heft 2, Nr. 4-6
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418072
for: Treble recorder, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418857
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 569182
Berliner Klassik Serie A, Konzerte Band 1
for: Violin, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 432825
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 478743
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