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.
replaces HN 1312
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796426
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282545
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279338
new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690278
Zwei Sonaten für Orgel und Orchester (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116475
for: Piano
Item no.: 184623
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 394483
for: Violin, viola
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282727
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223190
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 401437
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411733
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 411130
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316324
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 205397
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 388622
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 770898
for: 4 VL 3 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 109193
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 257316
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263261
for: Lute, Violin and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 262504
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 227863
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 274086
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 273948
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256612
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256476
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 207310
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 180553
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 186479
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 245011
for: Violin and Cimbalon
Buch
Item no.: 112339
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 388621
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 198514
for: 2 Violins and Cello [Basso Continuo]
Score
Item no.: 263109
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 143747
for: Recorder and BC
Score
Item no.: 259780
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 279784
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 389113
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 389114
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 562809
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282615
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401377
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
CD
Item no.: 385761
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 1715356
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1702644
Volume I
1768–1785
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401292
Performers' Facsimiles 138 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 490666
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 355057