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.
pour 2 violons et la basse continue parties
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 632320
Edition Schott
for: Flöte (Tenor-Blockflöte, Oboe, Violine), Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 748144
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 354860
Edition Schott
for: 2 bassoons
Music score
Item no.: 723063
for: Cello, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 225143
for: Cello, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 192501
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 348479
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1551892
"The Roots, (A Tale Sonata)"
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556995
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5749
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4654
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4516
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3364
for: Flute; piano ad lib.
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 898531
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 167270
for: 2 trumpets, 3 trombones (quintet)
Ensemble score (C)
Item no.: 417799
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1549906
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317312
for: Flute, guitar
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 135406
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 497450
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 692286
for: Piano
Item no.: 288002
for: Trumpet (C/B-flat), organ [piano]
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 419443
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 244752
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 378897
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 379002
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 124498
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408335
for: BFL VL BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413485
Heft 2
Sonaten B-Dur und g-Moll
for: Treble recorder, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419257
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369760
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts, CD
Item no.: 669553
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 300409
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 674541
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 817348
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 395205
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 194702
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 381843
Clarinet Library
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408340
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 643503
with marked and unmarked string part
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 609741
for: Violin
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613329
for: Viola, piano
Item no.: 613315
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 777891
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 304639
for: Violin, viola
Ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 294547
for: 2 treble recorders [2 flutes], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297801
for: Flute, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 170315
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