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.
Für Altblockflöte solo. Baß und GitarrenBegleitung von Erwin Schaller
Das Gitarrenwerk (Verlagskopie) (Editor's copy)
for: Guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311676
Estratte da "Concerti ecclesiastici a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 8 voci"
for: 2–4 melodic instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 484919
Heft I: Sonata Prima - Sonata Seconda
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413626
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
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304589
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418003
for: Piano
Item no.: 302987
Heft 2 (Sonaten 4 - 6)
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 131008
Sibley Nr. 22 & Nr. 26
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 603730
Edition Schott
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 749585
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174366
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 179185
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304591
for: Flöte / Violine, Klavier
Music score, CD
Item no.: 432934
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: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 331787
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
London, B1 Ms. Add. 31501, I
Tastata – Opere d'intavolatura d'organo e cimbalo
for: Harpsichord [organ]
Music score
Item no.: 764559
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 395296
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE HISTORISCHE INSTRUMENTE ZWEI GLEICHE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 637845
for: Cello [double bass], piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 395216
for: Flute, viola, harp
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 605969
D minor
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 368212
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 689579
for: Flute, violin, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 583176
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411454
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 633511
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 551963
for: Sopran-Blockflöte (Violine) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 223765
for: Piano
Item no.: 351551
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 360554
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
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256572
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256512
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 256035
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 433930
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 199048
für Tasteninstrument
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 274699
Arrangement of the Sonata for Violoncello and Piano
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 328830
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 194511
for: Alto saxophone, cello
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 680972
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 174116
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
