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
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Klassik
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Music score
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Formant 2 - Trope
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Music score
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for: Viola, piano
2 Performance scores
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Sonaten für das Pianoforte Band 2, Bearbeitung: Franz Liszt
zen-on piano library
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Music score
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Music score
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Sibley Nr. 17 & 19
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
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Based on the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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für Viola da gamba und Bc (Bc ausgesetzt)
Teil der Ledenburg-Sammlung
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661067
for: Piano
Music score
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for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
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Arrangement for violin and piano by Anton Diabelli
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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Score
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for: 4 ABFL BC
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Sheet music
Item no.: 3367
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
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for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
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for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
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Incl. Cello Version of the Horn Sonata op. 17
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
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for: Flute, basso continuo
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Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
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Set of parts
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Hortus Musicus 245
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(Pastoral)
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Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: Clarinet, piano
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Book
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2 Performance scores
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