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: Clarinet (B-flat/A), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 272306
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 272291
Siecle Musical~Musiques Francaises
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 302161
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 297121
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200350
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 364796
Performers' Facsimiles
for: 2 VL 2 OB (FL) BC
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 493185
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 168359
für 3 Bassgamben und B.c.
Erstausgabe
for: 3 BASS-VDG BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 155418
Ensemble score
Item no.: 614806
ou Conversations galantes et amusantes entre une Flûtte Traversiere, un Violon, une
Basse de Viole et la Basse Continüe
Performers' Facsimiles 243
for: Flute, violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Set of parts (reprint)
Item no.: 347759
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Item no.: 244707
Aurea Amadeus 207
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 110050
RG Editions
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 623130
aus "Sonatae tam aris quam aulis servient"
Brass Musik, Band 11
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 476338
Audio-CD
Item no.: 312791
für Violine und Basso continuo
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 471406
Musicalady 5~Komponistinnen Des 18. Und 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Violin, harpsichord
Piano score
Item no.: 313703
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314107
for: Clarinet
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 152020
Cembalo (Klavier)
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLINE VIOLINE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 150904
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE GITARRE GITARRE SOLO
Item no.: 327416
mit Klarinettenstimmen in A und B
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 313792
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 378290
Band 1
for: Bassoon, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1556156
Band 1: Sonaten 1–4
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 1346456
("Sonate da Camera" with the famous Follia Variations)
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1560667
for: Violin, viola, cello (string trio)
Score, 3 Single part
Item no.: 768256
Gesamtausgabe in zwei Bänden, Band 1: Nr. 1-6
Musik aus dem Archiv. Erstausgaben aus dem Musikarchiv der Künstlergilde, Band 14
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 673496
Edition Moeck 1032
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 413465
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 777877
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 231654
Schirmer Performance Editions
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1678142
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 770703
Urtext
Edition Kammermusik
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1552080
for: 2 cellos [viole da gamba/bassoons]
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 617821
für Altblockflöte und Basso continuo
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 677530
in der Bearbeitung für Trompete und Orgel
Transposition von T 20005
for: Trumpet, organ
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 656796
for: 2 viole da gamba
2 Scores
Item no.: 443219
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394836
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394788
Doppelchörige Bearbeitung mit optionalen Stimmen
Chor a´3 + Chor a´4
for: Brass ensemble (7 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 197946
for: Celli (2) (oder Fagotte)
Set of parts
Item no.: 373491
Kermit Moore gewidmet
for: Cello, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 381409
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1016489
for: Small bassoon (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408096
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