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.
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Violine und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749652
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 748861
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violoncelli (Fagotte, Viole da gamba)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 754385
for viola solo
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 731457
op. 6
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 727392
per Flauto traverso e Basso
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 735559
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 105687
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 185057
for: Violin, cello
Parts (2)
Item no.: 283675
Edited from the first edition
Camera Flauto Amadeus 194
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 489326
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593137
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 388478
for: 2 violins [descant recorders/cornetts], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 298050
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393367
for flute and piano
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165277
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 169072
Edition Peters Green Series
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 359445
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 597039
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 181382
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 490998
for Alto Recorder & Keyboard
Volume I: Sonatas 1-2
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462625
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1666
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1646188
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366845
for: Flute, piano
Book
Item no.: 136439
for: Flute [treble recorder/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5454
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5217
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), 3 trombones (quintet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4325
for: Oboe [violin/flute], bassoon [cello/viola da gamba], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2670
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 695374
Edited from the sources and provided with commentary and fingering
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 261159
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 200262
for: Cello, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 459893
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 468483
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso continuo (Violoncello ad libitum)
Music score
Item no.: 754376
for Flute und Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 478528
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: FL OB BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 332254
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
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 561748
Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 738404
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 287814
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304587
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 395204
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 288122
© 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
