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: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695008
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 419243
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1604403
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597076
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597075
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597062
Edition Immer
for: Trumpet, basso continuo
Item no.: 208591
for: 3 trumpets, piano [organ]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 364472
zu der kaiserlichen Serenade
Alta Musica
for: 3 trumpets, organ, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351780
for: 2 flutes [oboes, violins], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4493
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4434
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], organ
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4417
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 4252
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6441
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6358
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord [organ/piano]
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 3553
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1511
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4859
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 6038
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5765
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6185
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220239
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220224
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220211
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220115
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220100
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272348
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272251
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272246
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272141
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2142
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2004
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1127
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1068
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 578104
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2855
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220467
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233940
for: Piano
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 1714697
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 577577
Edition Schott
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 730702
for: 2 TRP 2 POS BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 330231
for: 4 POS BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 225994
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 610118
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 623130
for: Violin [recorder], basso continuo
Item no.: 200508
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 248016
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Score, ensemble scores
Item no.: 119839