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
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401311
Parma Nr. 9 & Nr. 14
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 617820
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 211521
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 3817
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 608756
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 158510
for: 2 violas
Ensemble score
Item no.: 163246
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 294005
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 393302
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 607531
revised edition
replaces HN 357
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1351876
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Item no.: 420187
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 361798
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 241916
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418905
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, solo part
Item no.: 288581
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492998
Studien-Edition
for: Violin
Study score
Item no.: 223363
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 131495
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 197989
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288597
aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 628026
for: Treble recorder
Item no.: 413528
for: FL 2 ABFL BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413472
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1562575
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 680870
N.1-9 per Violino e Basso Continuo (o Violino ad Libitum)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 177603
Sibley Nr. 15 & 25
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 375421
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, 2 playing scores, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1346393
for: Mandolin, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 418354
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 636953
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 562245
Reprint
Spiralbindung
for: 2 pianos
4 Performance scores
Item no.: 580667
L'arte del flauto
for: 2 treble recorders, flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 419124
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 628044
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 625981
for: 2 Vibraphones
Score
Item no.: 382834
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 189674
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 114896
Sonatas Nos. 1–50
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
4 music scores (Urtext)
Item no.: 673609
Denkmaeler Der Musik In Salzburg Bd 14
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 561971
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 301012
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 672421
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279339
for: Classical guitar
Score
Item no.: 390822
op. 13
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 752128
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Violine und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749652
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 748861
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