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: Sopran, Alt und Tenor-Blockflöten
Item no.: 549893
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 369706
(Roma 1727)
for: Harpsichord
Music score
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KV 15
for: Flöte, Cembalo und Violoncello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 467610
Epistle Sonata for the Coronation Mass
Urtext Stuttgarter Mozart-Ausgaben
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 368559
Commentary and Preparatory Exercises
for: 1–2 cellos
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 777443
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 162940
for: 2 Violins [Cello ad. lib] and Piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 162652
op. 32
for: Klavier und Flöte (Violoncello)
Item no.: 549930
for Harp and Violin (Flute)
for: Violin [flute], harp
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 475110
for Harp and Violin (Flute)
for: Violin [flute], harp
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 475109
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 564970
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 484417
Musik für Blockflöte - Il flauto dolce
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 113131
op. 12
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113702
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 165332
for: 2 violins
Ensemble score
Item no.: 137710
für Violine, Viola da gamba oder 2. Violine und Basso continuo
aus: 6 Sonate à Violino e Viola da gamba col suo Basso continuo
for: Violin, viola da gamba [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 135156
for: TASTEN- UND BALGINSTRUMENTE KLAVIER KLAVIER ZWEIHÄNDIG
Item no.: 622388
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163047
für 1 Melodie-Instrument und Gitarre
for: Melody instrument (C), guitar
Item no.: 130333
for: Quartet
Book
Item no.: 166928
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276873
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276866
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
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Band IV: 14-18 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549110
for: Violin [recorder], basso continuo
Item no.: 200508
für Viola da Gamba und B.c. oder andere Instrumente
Sonaten IV-VI
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 569029
Edition Immer
for: Trumpet, basso continuo
Item no.: 208591
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
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for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Item no.: 213836
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 930434
Divertimento
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 248016
bläser + orgel 4
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Score, ensemble scores
Item no.: 119839
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 556064
für Flöte, Oboe (Violine), Viola (Viola da gamba) und Basso continuo
for: Flute, oboe [violin], viola da gamba [viola], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 669555
for: Flute, guitar
Music score
Item no.: 769351
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
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for: 3 VL 2 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 109192
for: Recorder, basso continuo
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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