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: TRP (OB) 2 VL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 299446
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Item no.: 297771
for: 2 violins, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 553788
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 161669
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 144590
for: FL FAG BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419045
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418608
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 122161
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Item no.: 200240
for: Violin, guitar
Partitur und Stimme
Item no.: 119030
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 420870
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 555046
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 549514
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 382334
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 379511
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 211603
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 192684
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678454
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 190452
for: 1. Violine (1. Oboe), 2. Violine (2. Oboe), Basso continuo (Cello (Fagott), Cembalo)
Score, part
Item no.: 621632
for: Piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 215716
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 227975
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 321456
Triosonaten für Violine, Viola da gamba und Cembalo
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684270
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 130289
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491060
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 357694
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295463
for: Piccolo, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567556
for: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567548
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1297323
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1297309
for: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287663
for: Treble recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287660
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287654
for: Trumpet or Cornet & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287653
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287651
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287650
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 1287649
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287645
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287614
Edition Schott
for: Viola d'amore, piano
Music score
Item no.: 733739
"Les adieux"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 733681
for Solo Viola
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 739107
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 734221
from "Essercizii Musici"
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749974
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749725
for: Piccolo trumpet, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 598222