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 [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
Vol. 4: Sonaten 19–24
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202236
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 382147
for: Viola, piano
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 932139
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 555952
for: Violin, cello
Score
Item no.: 374439
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1018379
for: Classical
Score
Item no.: 254840
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part tenor recorder 2
Item no.: 1702410
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 583326
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Piano score, single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 203236
for: Blockflöte
Score
Item no.: 238499
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 551061
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Item no.: 417718
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336192
for: Violin, viola
Single part(n)
Item no.: 282502
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263254
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263120
for: Flute, basso continuo
Book
Item no.: 461445
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 257172
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412692
Frutti Musicali 3 (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 470206
Set of parts
Item no.: 1559257
for: Cello
Score
Item no.: 482372
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304845
for: Violin, cello, harpsichord [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304501
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282613
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264158
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 308491
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162283
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 354238
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198138
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1194185
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 264149
for: 2 VL 3 VA VC BC / 2 VL 2 VA 2 VC BC
2 Scores
Item no.: 160291
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 334672
for: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 175777
L'arte del violino
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418013
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Item no.: 556538
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