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: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413504
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162288
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 556064
für Flöte, Oboe (Violine), Viola (Viola da gamba) und Basso continuo
for: Flute, oboe [violin], viola da gamba [viola], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 669555
for: Flute, guitar
Music score
Item no.: 769351
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 195144
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 210203
for: 3 VL 2 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 109192
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 109077
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Item no.: 241565
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1170151
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695008
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 474881
Performers' Facsimiles 251 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 581469
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 443223
for cello and piano
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163528
for: 2 oboes
Item no.: 446996
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 292199
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1671239
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 577811
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso continuo; Violoncello ad libitum
Item no.: 420978
for: 2 ABFL
Score
Item no.: 176357
for: 8 HRN
Score
Item no.: 601839
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282546
for: Violin, organ
Score
Item no.: 1560487
for: Trompete in D und Klavier
Item no.: 354882
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 694201
for: Guitar
Item no.: 130257
for: Flute, guitar
Score, part
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for: Piano
Item no.: 460712
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420833
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 288621
for: Piano
Item no.: 108152
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for: Piano
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for: Piano
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for: Bassoon, cello
Ensemble score
Item no.: 282624
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1664275
for: Violin, viola
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for: Flute Viola Harp
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493440
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 376851
Klavierbegleitung
for: Flute, piano
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 203230
for: Piano
Item no.: 304492
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282658
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 186180
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 208785
for: Violin, viola
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 282725