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.
Triosonaten für Violine, Viola da gamba und Cembalo
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684270
for: Flute [violin], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394951
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394944
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394552
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 211603
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 357694
for: Violinen (2), Cello, Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551157
for: Violinen (2), Cello, Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551156
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200349
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 723599
Musica Mundi 3
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 159832
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 859304
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316663
for: Flute, harp
Score, solo part
Item no.: 328725
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 613603
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 625799
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316324
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 471258
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 471244
for: ABFL (OB/FL/VL) BC
Item no.: 225767
for: Trumpet (D), piano
Item no.: 1351628
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 200498
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 962519
Camera flauto Amadeus 173
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 344472
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 379511
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 205397
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Item no.: 297771
Volume I
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 603475
for: 2 trombones [baritones/euphoniums], bass trombone [tuba]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 665755
for: 2 oboes [2 violins], bassoon [cello]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4685
Volume 1: Sonatas 1–3
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1642877
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122161
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122128
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419206
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 419242
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
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for: Bassoon, cello
Ensemble score
Item no.: 620011
for: Horn, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 300860
for four bassoons and double bassoon (Score, parts)
for: 4 bassoons, double bassoon; harpsichord ad lib.
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 646813
for: Piano
Music score
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for: 4 VL 3 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
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for: Bassoon, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215568
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696698
for: Horn (F) [cello], piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 696019
for: 1. Violine (1. Oboe), 2. Violine (2. Oboe), Basso continuo (Cello (Fagott), Cembalo)
Score, part
Item no.: 621632
new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690278
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