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 violin (flute) and harp
for: Violin [flute], harp
Score, solo part
Item no.: 382395
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 244564
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 607111
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 444369
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 609239
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 662434
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 558900
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 363441
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401122
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 369652
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 469395
"Moonlight Sonata"
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 378598
Volume II
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401168
op. 27, 111, 146, 168, 175, 181
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 776524
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580763
Collection Thierry Mathis
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 165848
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1544110
Collection Thierry Mathis
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 105688
pour Violon (Oboe/Flöte), Basse pour la Viole avec Basse chiffrée
Collection Thierry Mathis
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 105686
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200282
Sechs Sonaten
I-III
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108975
TWV 42:a6
Partitur / Einzelstimmen
for: Treble recorder, oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 234674
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 656505
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 768998
(Bc ausgesetzt)
Ledenburg Sammlung
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 664478
Heft 1 (Sonaten 1 - 3)
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 131007
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLINE VIOLINE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 176690
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 208182
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 170432
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 164902
MusicaLady – Komponistinnen des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts 8
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 313701
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163555
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 639008
for: Flöte (Violine), Violine und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 101674
Edition Schott
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 742532
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383474
for Recorder and Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 425060
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 561966
for: Organ 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 662527
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 176446
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1020848
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179564
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 186350
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 681802
for: Violin
Solostimme
Item no.: 661289
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Playback-CD (without sheet music)
Item no.: 143422
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 675134
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