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: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 675550
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 360143
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 359705
Volume 2
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 359650
for: 2 VL 2 VA (VDG) BASS-VDG ORG
Score
Item no.: 551838
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 176935
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 202157
for: 2 cornets [trumpets/ oboes], bassoon, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 210960
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 285873
for: Clarinet (A/B-flat), guitar
Ensemble score
Item no.: 643029
für Cembalo (Orgel, Klavier)
for: Piano [harpsichord/organ]
Music score
Item no.: 228835
for: Violin, harpsichord [piano]
Music score, CD
Item no.: 432936
Music Partner (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score, Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 432930
for: Clarinet, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 647258
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198159
for: Piano
3 music scores (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1162525
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1026782
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462150
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 266373
for: Trombone [euphonium], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 427602
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 348911
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256356
No. 4-6
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198195
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404514
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 850428
for: Flute [violin], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 822643
for: Flute, piano; cello ad lib.
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 198204
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with French and Spanish Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 622527
for: Flute, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 255923
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255571
for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 776614
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 421180
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 582842
for: Trompete, 2 ZINK Orgel / Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 137088
Volume 2 (No. 3-4)
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 124050
for: Violin, piano
CD
Item no.: 144994
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Item no.: 144724
for: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433596
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 139705
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 130954
First Edition
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669135
in G major, D minor ("Tempest"), E-flat major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 670071
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669287
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 667422
for: Flute, harp
Set of parts
Item no.: 480500
for: Flute, piano [basso continuo]
Item no.: 225983
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486510
for: VL VDG (POS) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 193493
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