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: Cello, harpsichord [piano]
Score, part
Item no.: 190775
for: 2 violins
Parts (2)
Item no.: 197845
Edition Peters Green Series
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 359445
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401166
for: Flute [treble recorder], basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116299
for Flute und Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 478528
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 444015
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 401538
Three Sonatas attributed to J. S. Bach
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401306
(Spring)
marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401128
for: FL OB BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 332254
originally in C
Musica Rara
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 132559
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 284814
for: Flute, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 141904
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696695
for: Piano 4 hands [2 pianos]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279892
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1316984
Edition Immer
Reihe I: Werke aus Kremsier
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1351469
Band III: Sonate VII: B-dur, VIII: Es-dur, IX: B-dur
for: Oboe [recorder/ violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 303121
for: 2 Violas and Basso Continuo
Book
Item no.: 601827
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 605028
for: Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 394543
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
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
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
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
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