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, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 4585
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3383
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 3227
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5467
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5420
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5322
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5286
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 6829
from: VI Sonate per la Traversiera, o German Flute, con Basso per Violone, o Cembalo, London 1728
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6485
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 355435
for: 2 cellos
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2163
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1954
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2479
for: Violin [oboe], oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 122193
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220236
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220228
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220221
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220214
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220212
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220107
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290687
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290683
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290672
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290979
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290973
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 625799
for: Tuba (B-flat), organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1284143
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 207310
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 143747
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 591464
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276988
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276987
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276983
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276981
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276970
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276966
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276956
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276860
for: 3 trombones
Sheet music
Item no.: 596026
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594054
from "Essercizii Musici"
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723306
Edition Schott
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723261
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 723128
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 722515
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 723599
Edited from the Text of the Carl Maria von Weber Complete Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723444
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663269
for: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663267
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