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.
B-Dur / F-Dur
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 192974
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 638549
op. 8/2
for: Violin, guitar
Music score
Item no.: 761246
für Flöte und Gitarre
for: Flute, guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 674049
for: für Altblockflöte und Cembalo (Klavier)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 208936
Piano Collection
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316237
Faksimiles
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 278245
Vol. 1: Sonatas 1–6
Score
Item no.: 1204098
für Soprano und Trombon overo Violeta
for: VL (FL/OB) POS (VDG/VC)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 611381
for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Item no.: 213837
für zwei Violinen, Viola (Violine III), Violoncello und Basso continuo
aus: 12 Sonaten für 2-5 Streichinstrumente mit beziffertem Bass
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 106063
for Flute and Continuo (Guitar)
for: Flute, guitar
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 100141
for: 2 VA VC CEMB
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580931
for: Piano
[deutsch, englisch, französisch, italienisch, spanisch]
Item no.: 468920
in C minor, F major, D major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666059
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 360145
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162232
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 359496
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 223344
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 641767
für Oboe und Klavier
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 676971
for: Violin, Viola and Guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 477991
Spanische Hackbrettmusik, Heft 3
for: Dulcimer
Item no.: 1659771
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3071
TWV 41:G12, e9, D19
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 168165
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220459
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 488001
Edition Schott
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 738481
for: Piano
Item no.: 131529
for: Piano
Item no.: 189212
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220466
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 491533
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162948
for: VL FAG (VC) KLAV
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 183738
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 120837
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 468031
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 404508
for Harp and Violin (Flute)
for: Violin [flute], harp
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 475108
for Harp and Violin (Flute)
for: Violin [flute], harp
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 475107
Musica Rara
for: FL VL OB BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 338761
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418901
Erstausgabe
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 486184
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331549
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1558759
(aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV)
for: 1. Violine (1. Oboe), 2. Violine (2. Oboe), Basso continuo (Cello (Fagott), Cembalo)
Score, part
Item no.: 621955
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