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.
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582650
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279909
Bärenreiter Urtext
previously 16,50 € (save 70 %)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 648451
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 601765
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], piano
Music score
Item no.: 729706
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108824
Russische Musik der Moderne
Revidierte Neuauflage 1998
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108789
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with German and English Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition, anthology)
Item no.: 498364
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 769371
Fingering and bowing for Violin: Eugène Ysaÿe
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 362805
Edition includes both solo parts
for: Clarinet [viola], piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 431030
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Music score
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For Flute and Piano, Op. 23op. 23
for: Flute, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 228791
op. 38
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 630406
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 349266
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582652
für Violine und Klavier
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 645983
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Clarinet
Item no.: 286198
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 585815
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288600
pour le viollon et pour le clavecin
Volume 1: Sonata I (d), Sonata II (D)
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 272287
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], piano
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for: 2 violins
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 499293
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 300923
Edition without Fingering
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664057
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796413
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 661684
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1479710
für zwei Klaviere zu vier Händen
for: 2 pianos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 662763
für Violine und Klavier
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 636364
ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces 2016-2019
for: Cello, piano
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1-3, D 384, 385, 408
Urtext der Neuen Schubert-Ausgabe (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116944
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401407
für Flöte und Bc
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE QUERFLÖTE QUERFLÖTE UND KLAVIER
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for: BFL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 345493
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 334392
op. 8
for: Cello
Item no.: 124388
Edition without Fingering
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664059
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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für 2 Sopran-Instrumente (Violine, Blockflöte, Zink) und Basso continuo
Chamber Music Of The Seventeenth Century 7
for: 2 melodic instruments (C), basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 340386
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 343320
Serie A/10 (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
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with marked and unmarked string parts
revised edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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(1–44)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
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for: FL (VL/ABFL) VA-DAMORE (VDG) BC (CEMB)
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Score, 2 Single parts
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