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: Piano
Item no.: 393469
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223884
for: BFL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 345493
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491003
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 334392
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696706
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 359706
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 577000
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 243519
Edition without Fingering
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664059
for: Cello
Item no.: 124388
Versions 1913 and 1931
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679499
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 344072
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 586200
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 664667
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 767495
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 257377
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 189530
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 481631
for: Flute
Music score, CD
Item no.: 481954
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 471291
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 138800
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 118929
for: Descant recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 483317
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191437
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 779029
Critical Edition
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191140
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160070
for cimbalom with basso continuo
Editing and phrasing marks by Farkas Gyöngyi
Continuo arranged by Tódy Ilona
for: Cimbalom, Basso Continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 256284
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 257378
Vol. 2: Sonata A flat major Hob. XVI/46) – Landon 31
Performing Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239530
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 578895
Standard Violin Student Repertoire – Masterfully taught by Zakhar Bron
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part, DVD
Item no.: 609913
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191368
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 483318
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 622584
The Bartók Performing Editions-Instruktive Ausgaben von Béla Bártok
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 771806
for: Violin
Buch + CD
Item no.: 471903
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122140
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 389049
Volume 3: Sonata C minor Hob. XVI/20 – Landon 33
Performing Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239531
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 550009
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256308
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 388953
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 378868
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 193252
for: Bassoon, piano
Item no.: 475543
for: 2 VL VDG (VC) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 602103