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: 2 viole da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 486118
(Bc ausgesetzt)
Ledenburg Sammlung
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 664508
for: Violin, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 940756
... I piaceri del violino ...
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 484914
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695009
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 172126
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 684495
"A la Maresienne"
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749980
Edition Schott
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 754200
18 Probestücke zu dem "Versuch über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 752166
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 746619
Edition Schott
for: Flöte (Violine), Violine und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747256
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594973
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 598400
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 676666
for: Harp
Music score
Item no.: 100868
Concerto de' varii stromenti
for: 2–4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 482976
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200287
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6044
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2278
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 276144
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177112
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200348
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198886
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 142123
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256081
for: Violin
Score
Item no.: 210907
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 673610
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666935
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 604182
for: 2 VL VDG (FAG) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 135404
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 169541
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 156107
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 631257
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, 2 ensemble scores
Item no.: 286068
Grand sonata A major
Kammermusik
for: Flute [violin], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 245640
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 130748
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 675159
edition with piano score, unmarked performance score (vc/bass) and marked part (vc)
for: Cello, double bass [piano]
Piano score, ensemble score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 773563
for: Oboe, clarinet, bassoon
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 492337
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108869
for: VC (VA) KLAV
Score, Parts
Item no.: 366610
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 622113
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
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Adapted for the Organ by Edward Miller
London 1785
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 280771
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 485413
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Violin, cello, harp
Score, Parts
Item no.: 549643
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