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: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 609239
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 663225
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 635679
Adapted for the Organ by Edward Miller
London 1785
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 280723
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 558900
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 419146
"Moonlight Sonata"
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 378598
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 607111
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383214
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394555
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479643
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 469395
for: Piano
Item no.: 303806
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 311066
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 288825
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288583
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401122
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 662434
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 359025
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso continuo; Violoncello ad libitum
Item no.: 420962
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314115
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 113395
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 247962
Volume II
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401168
for: Piano
Item no.: 355957
Six Sonatas for Musette, Hurdy Gurdy, Flute, Oboe or Violin and Basso continuo
attributed to Antonio Vivaldi
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669078
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580763
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1544110
Sechs Sonaten
I-III
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108975
TWV 42:a6
Partitur / Einzelstimmen
for: Treble recorder, oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 234674
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 656505
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 768998
MusicaLady – Komponistinnen des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts 8
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 313701
for Recorder and Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 425060
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 561966
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179564
Allowed reprint
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1202598
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 619646
for: Violone [double bass], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 129216
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200282
Edition Schott
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 740001
New edition after the Urtext
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 748208
Op. 1 № 13, HWV 371
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6378
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 664478
for: Organ 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 662527
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 776524
Edition Schott
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 742532
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