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: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 331432
for: Violin, cello, harp [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 932112
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 460895
Ausgabe für Viola
for: Viola, piano
Klavierpartitur, Stimme
Item no.: 619025
pour 2 flûtes traversières
Archivum Musicum 28
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 456895
Klassik
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 340678
Band II: Sonate IV: g-moll, V: Es-dur, VI: F-dur
for: Oboe [recorder/ violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297750
Sonaten 7-9
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200545
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 475746
pour flûte traversière et Bc facsimile
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 664454
Archivum Musicum Volume 85
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 675257
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 191373
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1701167
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776621
for: ORCHESTERWERKE STREICHORCHESTER SOLO-TROMPETE
Score
Item no.: 273293
for: Guitar
Score
Item no.: 254758
Score
Item no.: 567629
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 768885
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 773706
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 325165
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, solo part, audio files (pdf/mp3 download)
Item no.: 674858
(Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 363787
for violoncello and piano
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLONCELLO VIOLONCELLO UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 372113
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 643508
für Flöte und Bc
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 498930
for: Cello, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 634749
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Violine, Flöte) und Basso continuo; Violoncello/Viola da gamba ad libitum
Item no.: 1701227
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781159
for: Violin, cello [viola]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661195
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 584629
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 238277
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238445
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238444
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 608431
Item no.: 611363
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 571548
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLINE VIOLINE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 194207
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 442606
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 181951
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 181051
for: TRP (OB) 2 VL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 299446
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 161669
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418608
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Item no.: 200240
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 555046
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 321456
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491060