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 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418508
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 138181
for: Flute, piano [basso continuo]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 207584
from Op. 1, Op. 2, Op. 5
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 743943
op. 110
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 732979
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 187582
for: Piano
Item no.: 288003
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796433
(Four Cities)
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 736940
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 142596
for: Violin [flute], cello [bassoon]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3440
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 419151
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2872
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Sheet music
Item no.: 2752
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696701
Edition Schott
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 747659
Sonaten Wq 71-74, BWV 1036, Violinsonaten nach den Trios Wq 143-147
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 622534
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369722
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 343320
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 684878
for: Cello
Item no.: 287816
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 461232
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214091
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 105777
for flute and piano
Allowed reprint (1928, Chester, London)
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 677566
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401295
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 683770
for: Cello, basso continuo [2 cellos]
Piano score, ensemble score
Item no.: 183527
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 202008
for: Treble recorder [flute], piano
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 576863
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 404586
with marked and unmarked string parts
revised edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486507
for: Piano
Item no.: 356041
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796412
Edited from the autographs and the first edition
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214569
for: Bassoon, cello [basso continuo]
Piano score, ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 471024
for: Violin
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 195410
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 418885
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 382396
Hob. XVI: 7, 9, 4, 8
edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 553384
for: Bassoon [cello], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 200574
with marked and unmarked string parts
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 609180
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401343
for: Clarinet
Item no.: 286198
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 604926
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, 2 ensemble scores
Item no.: 286069
Entstehung, Analyse und Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1008999
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418404
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