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.
Edition Schott
for: 2 flutes, piano
Music score
Item no.: 739798
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6045
Volume I
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 764097
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 247813
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 490722
for: 3 flutes [oboes/violins]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4911
for: Descant recorder [violin/cornett], basso continuo
Sheet music
Item no.: 3827
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1276
Edition Schott
for: Sopran-Blockflöte (Violine) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 727549
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749500
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759263
Edition Schott
for: Harp
Music score
Item no.: 736387
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 741002
per Flauto traverso e Basso
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 756729
18 Probestücke zu dem Versuch "Über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 754289
G major, A minor
for: Flöte (Oboe) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723421
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723284
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 113052
for: Cello, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 640757
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 656573
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 349995
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 558901
for: Clarinet, piano
Score
Item no.: 263780
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 182645
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108824
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 216834
for: VL (FL/OB) FAG (VA/VDG/VC) BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 608596
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 303536
(Piano Sonata)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 693420
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 732405
for: Flute, bassoon [cello]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 131383
for: 2 violins, cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 281714
for: 2 cellos
Item no.: 155281
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 696214
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160710
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401142
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401144
Three Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord (Piano)
Edition Peters Urtext
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 379001
for: 3 treble recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420967
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164673
"Il Pastor Fido"
Volume I
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165377
for: Piano
Item no.: 356037
for: Flöte, Basso continuo, Cembalo
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 273762
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 158551
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 229484
"Aurnhammer"-Sonatas
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401524
for: 2 Violins and Cello [Basso Continuo]
Score
Item no.: 389426
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401379
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