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: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2855
for: 2 recorders (SA), organ [piano]
Score, part (pdf download)
Item no.: 2208
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6441
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6358
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6185
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 6038
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1127
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1068
for: 2 flutes [oboes, violins], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4493
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4434
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], organ
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4417
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord [organ/piano]
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 3553
Instructive Edition
Volume 1: KV 279–330
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 285859
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264157
for: Quintet
Score
Item no.: 247056
for: Guitar
Item no.: 473439
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte), Viola da gamba (Viola) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 101550
Autographe Notenhandschrift im Faksimile; Beginn des letzten Satzes (Facsimile)
Postcard
Item no.: 348008
for: Piano
Item no.: 288096
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Cembalo (Klavier); Viola da gamba (Violoncello) ad libitum
Partitur und Stimmen
Item no.: 420890
for: Violin, guitar
Parts (2)
Item no.: 129431
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 106347
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355428
for: 2 Violins and BC
Score
Item no.: 263101
Barock Violin Music
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 121526
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263211
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 389086
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263070
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255756
Camera flauto Amadeus 164
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 365843
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 149682
for: Guitar
Item no.: 206898
for: Flöte, Violine, Basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122179
for: Flute, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 174725
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 344143
for: Piano
5 CDs
Item no.: 796601
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316274
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318568
for: FAG GIT
Item no.: 394462
for: Flute, Viola and Violin
Score, Parts
Item no.: 358525
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 208483
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 177283
for: Piano
Item no.: 355946
for: Flute
Item no.: 130773
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 238472
for: Piano
Item no.: 356023
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 468028
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Flöte, Basso continuo
Gesamtausgabe, Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 193112