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: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 444015
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401166
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 109240
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 200262
for: Flute, piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 638505
Three Sonatas attributed to J. S. Bach
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401306
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401308
for: Cello, harpsichord [piano]
Score, part
Item no.: 190775
(Spring)
marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401128
Edition Peters Green Series
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 359445
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 395204
for: Flute [treble recorder], basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116299
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 468483
Edition Immer
Reihe I: Werke aus Kremsier
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1351469
Band III: Sonate VII: B-dur, VIII: Es-dur, IX: B-dur
for: Oboe [recorder/ violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 303121
for: 2 Violas and Basso Continuo
Book
Item no.: 601827
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 605028
Estratte da "Concerti ecclesiastici a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 8 voci"
for: 2–4 melodic instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 484919
Periodenbau und Taktordnung in Menuett, Sonate und Sinfonie
Studien und Materialien zur Musikwissenschaft 89
2 Books (Hardcover)
Item no.: 661085
for: 3 clarinets (trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 643140
Sibley Nr. 22 & Nr. 26
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 603730
for: 2 violins, viola (trio)
Item no.: 134500
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 770766
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 1019212
for: Flute
Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 290240
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE HISTORISCHE INSTRUMENTE ZWEI GLEICHE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 637845
30 Sonaten für Viola da gamba und Basso continuo
(Basso continuo nicht ausgesetzt)
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 684496
No. 2 A Major
for: 2 violins, cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 752375
Edition Schott
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 749585
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 199048
for: Piano
Item no.: 302987
for: 2 trumpets (C), 2 violins, organ, cello [double bass/bassoon]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5775
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4110
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3353
Szonáta
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 255950
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 884900
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411454
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 689579
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304589
for: Flute, violin, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 583176
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 194511
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413626
for: 2 VL VDG CEMB
Item no.: 140147
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 128041
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 433930
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 419241
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115321
for: Sopran-Blockflöte (Violine) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 223765