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], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 394483
4. Sonate (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 129634
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 176852
for: 2 violins
2 Scores
Item no.: 152168
for: 2 Blockflöten (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 106934
for: Violin, guitar
Partitur und Stimme
Item no.: 119030
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 130289
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 247905
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408334
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 160931
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 393352
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393341
for: 2 violins [flutes], guitar; cello ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 434086
for: Treble recorder, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 377654
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216626
for: Flute, violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 285900
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 179459
for: 2 SBFL (FL/OB)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 140616
for: 3 trombones
Item no.: 225992
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 130933
for: Flute, harpsichord
Item no.: 130844
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 301514
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 159746
for: 2 Trumpets, 2 Tenor- and Bass Trombone
Book
Item no.: 132600
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 404538
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 162672
for: 2 flutes, piano
Book
Item no.: 165593
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 165582
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 165591
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 164508
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 404299
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 404193
for: Recorder, harpsichord
Item no.: 283093
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 380211
for: Violin, viola
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282727
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282615
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 180331
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282545
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 420870
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108212
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 207310
for: Cello, basso continuo
2 Scores, 2 Single part
Item no.: 656494
for: Baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1015324
for: FL FAG BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419045
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 389113
for: Violin [oboe], oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 122193
for: Viola da gamba [violin/ flute], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122065
in F minor, A major, C major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 656597