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
Item no.: 351551
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 331787
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174366
from "Der getreue Musikmeister"
Hortus Musicus
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122047
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 131008
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 360554
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304591
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 179185
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 182646
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418037
London, B1 Ms. Add. 31501, I
Tastata – Opere d'intavolatura d'organo e cimbalo
for: Harpsichord [organ]
Music score
Item no.: 764559
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 633511
for: Violin, cello
Spielpartituren (2), Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 586173
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 551963
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256512
Für Altblockflöte solo. Baß und GitarrenBegleitung von Erwin Schaller
Das Gitarrenwerk (Verlagskopie) (Editor's copy)
for: Guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311676
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 395296
Arrangement of the Sonata for Violoncello and Piano
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 328830
for: Alto saxophone, cello
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 680972
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 549172
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256572
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 256035
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 583370
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 359798
for: Violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 116943
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 379109
for: Flöte und Cembalo (Klavier)
Music score
Item no.: 754427
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418003
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 174116
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401504
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418886
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696051
for: Cello [double bass], piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 395216
D minor
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 368212
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 274699
for: Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 394543
for: Flute, viola, harp
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 605969
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 132128
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401319
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401407
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 382455
Denkmaeler Der Musik In Salzburg Bd 3 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin
Item no.: 336187
for: 2 viole da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 486118
(Bc ausgesetzt)
Ledenburg Sammlung
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 664508
... I piaceri del violino ...
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 484914
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695009
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 172126
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 684495