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: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748970
nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748957
nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748954
from "12 Sonatas for a Flute with a Thorough Bass"
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749656
No. 3 F major
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe, Violine) und Basso continuo; Violoncello/Viola da gamba ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749623
Edition Schott
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 727151
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 726495
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 724960
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 732162
G Major / E Minor
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 727705
for: Treble recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731384
from the edition of the works for violin solo by
for: Flöte und Klavier (Flöte solo)
Music score
Item no.: 795961
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 758462
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 389114
for: 2 Alphorns in Gb & Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271635
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272242
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272188
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272182
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272134
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216626
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
TWV 41:C2,F2,f1,B3
from "Der Getreue Musikmeister"
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 200575
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383378
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 181952
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 817436
for: Guitar
Item no.: 290662
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 332796
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351838
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 394483
for: Flute, violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 285900
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 179459
for: 2 SBFL (FL/OB)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 140616
for: 3 trombones
Item no.: 225992
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284707
for: Piano
Item no.: 356020
for: Guitar
Item no.: 183179
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164235
Performers' Facsimiles 138 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 490666
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 355057
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
für Altsaxophon und Basso continuo
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Single part Alto saxophone, 2 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 661456
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 290764
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015149
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 779238
for: 2 violins
Single part(n)
Item no.: 419697
for: Accordion, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 385816
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162649
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