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.
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696705
Op. 1 № 13, HWV 371
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6378
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 257451
Allowed reprint
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1202598
for: Viola da gamba [viola], harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 116781
for: Violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Sammelband, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 116516
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 113851
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 619646
"Arpeggione"
Arrangement
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 140235
for: Sopran-Blockflöte und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420775
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 585816
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409427
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674549
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE QUERFLÖTE QUERFLÖTE SOLO
Item no.: 431567
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162272
for 2 violoncelli
for: 2 cellos
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 404189
Volume II
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401357
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 301256
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 491382
for: Violone [double bass], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 129216
for: 2 violins
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 551319
for: Viola, piano
Item no.: 584386
for: Violin, cello
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 177200
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 269076
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 586200
Version for Viola
with marked and unmarked string parts
Free Download of Arpeggione part
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 174171
Alan Gray (1855-1935)
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1316866
mit hinzugefügter Klavierbegleitung (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 383717
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 661780
no. 19 and no. 20 g minor and G major op. 49 no. 1 and no. 2
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683710
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163555
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 862546
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 848887
for: Saxophone
Music score
Item no.: 240311
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 238323
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1688094
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 478306
volume 1: Nos. 1–3
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 1668432
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 627866
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 118940
Hanns Eisler Complete Edition (HEGA) Serie IV/10
for: Piano
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 657983
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 197563
Facsimile of the Draft Score and Paul Sacher's Annotated Full Score Copy
for: 2 pianos, percussion
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 683631
for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 498468
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 487292
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1024909
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 587234
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1702352
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