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.
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 732950
op. 138/2
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 761594
nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748953
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748910
"Fantasy"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748908
from: 10 easy Sonatas
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 751037
Edition Schott
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749692
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749616
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 754112
"Sonatine"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 754063
Mozart / Haydn / J.Chr. Bach / Häßler / Wolf
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 756814
From the Time of Frederick II
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 756762
Edition Schott
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749983
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 740591
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 734244
Edited after: Paul Hindemith, Complete Works, Vol. V/7
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 734029
Edition Schott
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 734027
op. 10/2
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 733929
op. 12/1
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 723869
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726363
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726362
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726361
B minor
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 726051
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 727367
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 725080
First Movement. Transcript for Guitar
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 729902
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 592450
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595319
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595290
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595266
Edition Schott
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723205
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723144
Edition Schott
for: Flöte (Violine) und obligates Cembalo (Klavier)
Music score
Item no.: 723113
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663260
for: Trumpet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 599454
for: Trumpet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 598487
for: 4 trombones, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 596002
for: 2 melodic instruments (C/B-flat/E-flat), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 588281
for: 2 POS KLAV (ORG)
Sheet music
Item no.: 593817
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593483
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594053
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594051
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594964
for: Trp Tuba Klav (Org)
Sheet music
Item no.: 593265
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593165
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593116
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593087
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 592956
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