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 [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 549917
for: Keyboard instrument
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for: Violin, piano
Score, solo part
Item no.: 434029
for: Violin, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 310761
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1613223
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419205
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 375544
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 242309
for: 2 clarinets, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1716504
for: Trumpet or Cornet, Trombone & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1716503
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
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for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
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for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1692591
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1692590
for: Brass Ensemble (12 Players)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1695964
for: Euphonium, organ
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1284147
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287655
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287643
for: Double bass, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287639
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276977
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276971
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276964
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276958
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276856
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
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for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
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for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277221
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277220
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277119
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277118
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
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for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
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for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316445
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290984
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290980
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290971
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290674
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290666
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 131496
for: Clarinet, bassoon
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279857
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281623
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661988
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664002
for: Flexible brass ensemble (6 parts), organ [piano]
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 597612
for: 4 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 trombones, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 597424
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 593326
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593195
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