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: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593137
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 597039
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
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for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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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
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: Viola
Music score
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for Flute und Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
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Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Cello, piano
Music score
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for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Cello, harpsichord [piano]
Score, part
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for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 484395
for: Flute, piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 638505
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
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for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1666
for: 2 violins [descant recorders/cornetts], basso continuo
Score, Parts
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
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for Alto Recorder & Keyboard
Volume I: Sonatas 1-2
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
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for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
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Piano score, Solo parts
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for: Clarinet, piano
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Ensemble score
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for: Violin, basso continuo
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Music score
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for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Score, part
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for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
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Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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for: Violin, piano
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Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Flute, piano
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for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
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for: Flute, basso continuo
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Edited from the sources and provided with commentary and fingering
Wiener Urtext Edition
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Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: Organ
Music score
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for: Viola, piano
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