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.
Denkmaeler Der Tonkunst In Oesterreich 153~Dtoe 153
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for: Violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe
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with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
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for: Cello, piano
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for: Violin, piano
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Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for: Clarinet, piano
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Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
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Music score
Item no.: 491373
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
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(Longo n.57/93/366/383/424)
trascrizione per fisarmonica a bassi scialti di Alessandro Di Zio
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Music score
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aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV
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Score, Parts
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for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: 2 VL VDG (VC) BC
Score, Parts
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suivies d'un nombre de pièces
for: 2 cellos [viole da gamba/bassoons]
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 465233
für Klavier und Violoncello
Louise Farrenc Kritische Ausgabe Band 7
for: Cello, piano
Score, solo part
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Die auf dem Clavier spielende Cæcilia
8 Sonaten
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
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for: Mandoline und Basso continuo
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for 2 Treble Recorders and Continuo
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for: Flute, piano
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Ensemble score
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[CD:Cembalo-Begleitung zur Solostimme]
MusicPartner - Klassik zum Mitspielen
CD
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for: Violin, piano
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2 Performance scores
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for: Trumpet (B-flat) [horn (B-flat)], piano [organ]
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for Flute and Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
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for: Organ
Music score
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Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
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for: Cello, basso continuo
Ensemble score
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Music score (Urtext edition)
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