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: Treble recorder, violin, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 150272
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 272671
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 273544
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 778188
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Item no.: 161181
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 151492
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 225828
for: Piano
Item no.: 287709
Cello Library
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279362
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420879
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 675550
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), 3 trombones [horn (F) , 2 trombones]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 339132
(Urtext)
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 285332
(Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284889
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394790
Volume 2 (No. 3-4)
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 124050
for: 3 FL / PART ST
Score, Parts
Item no.: 184134
revised edition
Paganini-Schumacher
for: Violin, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 204421
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 185822
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1026782
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 115322
Band 2
for: Flute
Ensemble score, 2 CDs
Item no.: 660406
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355423
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462150
for: Trombone [euphonium], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 427602
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 348911
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418906
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 188639
for: 2 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661736
Collection Maurice André
for: Piccolo trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 199041
for Treble Recorder and Basso continuo
Volume 3 (No. 5-6)
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 182157
for: für Gitarre
Item no.: 124203
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Item no.: 475547
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 113816
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393346
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 420980
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 356986
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 172887
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 355952
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 354363
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 756173
for: 2 bassoons
Ensemble score
Item no.: 248409
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 285911
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 285873
for: Violin [flute], piano
Item no.: 285863
Instructive Edition
Volume 2: KV 331–547a
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 285860
for: 2 bassoons [2 cellos], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580829
for: Piano
Item no.: 284694