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: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276966
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276956
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276860
Nach den Concerti grossi
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413470
pour 2 flûtes traversières
Archivum Musicum 28
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 456895
for: Flute [violin], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394951
Klassik
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 340678
Band II: Sonate IV: g-moll, V: Es-dur, VI: F-dur
for: Oboe [recorder/ violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297750
Sonaten 7-9
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200545
for: Piano
Item no.: 605313
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418900
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 475746
pour flûte traversière et Bc facsimile
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 664454
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419191
op. 6/6
for: Treble recorder, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 377654
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394552
A Due Cori 52
for: 7 INST (SSATBBB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371259
für zwei Violinen oder Flöten und Gitarre (Violoncello ad lib.)
for: 2 violins [flutes], guitar; cello ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 434086
Archivum Musicum Volume 85
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 675257
CD
Item no.: 385761
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 245011
for: 4 VL 3 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 109193
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 353960
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 247905
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314675
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351838
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 287819
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 393352
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408334
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 191373
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1701167
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 723599
Edition Schott
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723261
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 445836
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 138664
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 127517
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 127513
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108212
for: Klarinette, FAG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 306370
for: Recorder, harpsichord
Item no.: 283093
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1341246
Edition Schott
for: 3 Melodie-Instrumente (Violinen, Flöten, Oboen) oder Streichorchester und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba, Fagott) ad libitum
Partitur = Cembalo, Klavier
Item no.: 746788
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759627
for: 2 pianos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 769400
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 180331
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776621
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316663
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