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
Score
Item no.: 419845
op. 6, op. 45, op. 46
Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 2033
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1021514
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 298442
for: Organ, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 648661
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 1031508
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264212
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 388759
for: 3 violins, 2 violas, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 106066
for: Cello, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 466790
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 115472
for: Musette [Hurdy Gurdy, Flute, Oboe, Violin] and BC
Score
Item no.: 263182
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263253
Neun Sonaten
(Innsbruck 1659)
for: 3 viole da gamba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1020286
for: Flute, piano
Single part Flute
Item no.: 227041
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 770700
Performers' Facsimiles 78
Item no.: 620509
for violin and piano
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1478376
Performers' Facsimiles
for: ABFL BC / FAKSIMILE
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 275817
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 551036
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Item no.: 417718
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 586879
Edition Immer
for: Trompete, Fagott, Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 428795
Frutti Musicali 3 (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 470206
for: 2 flutes [violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632557
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 654830
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 476099
for: VDG VL (1-2)
Item no.: 493508
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1646186
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score
Item no.: 349820
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 604706
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 203269
Ewald Brass Series
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 338441
aus "Harmonia Instrumentalis" op.5
for: 2 violins, bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1016362
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Item no.: 466573
Sechs Sonaten
for: Violin, viola
Single part(n)
Item no.: 282502
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162283
Vol. 4: Sonaten 19–24
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202236
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198138
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 382147
Vol. 2: Sonatas 7–12
Set of parts
Item no.: 1559257
für Altblockflöte u. Klavier (Cembalo)
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 308491
for: Viola, piano
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 932139
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 354238
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264158
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.