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: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276881
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276862
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316390
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282797
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282785
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1575387
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Item no.: 293268
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595321
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595286
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595265
for: Trombone [alto trombone], organ
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 595188
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597083
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272347
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272249
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272244
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272168
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272146
for: Horn, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272137
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272130
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272125
for: Horn, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269324
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269316
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269313
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269258
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269248
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663278
for: Bass clarinet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663265
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268343
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268341
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234250
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234240
for: Treble recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233948
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233942
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233934
Klavierwerke in 5 Bänden - Band 1 (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 382569
Volume 2
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 359650
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1256378
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1238733
for: Tenor recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1238730
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394553
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1226047
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1226043
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 359705
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220109
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220108
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220361
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220360
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220227