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: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401459
for: Flute
Ensemble score
Item no.: 129663
Vol. 1: Sonatas 1–6
Score
Item no.: 1204098
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1281618
Neuausgabe
Edition Schott Einzelausgabe
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 356099
Auswahl in 3 Bänden
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 379247
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 617085
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401344
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 493561
for: Flute, harpsichord
Item no.: 130691
5 Sonaten
for: 2 trumpets [tenor horns], bass trombone [tuba]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 665758
aus: Six Sonates Pour deux Flutes-traversieres sans Basse, op. 1
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 3855
aus "18 Canons mélodieux ou 6 Sonates en duo a flutes traverses, ou violons, ou Basses de Viole"
Ausgabe für zwei Altblockflöten
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 3884
aus: Huit Sonates pour le Violon et la Basse, op. 2
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5260
aus: XII Solo for the German Flute with the Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord
London, 1744
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6121
aus: VIII Sonate per cembalo, op. 1
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 6479
op. 9, Nr. 2
aus: Quatrième Livre de Sonates à Violon seul avec la Basse Continue
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2861
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3129
per Violino, overo Traverso Solo, col Continuo
aus: "Der Brauchbare Virtuoso ...", Hamburg 1720
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 4424
"Sonatina"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 735182
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 739551
Edition Schott
for: 4 horns (quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 748193
Baroque Around the World
for: Violine (Flöte) und Klavier; Violoncello (Fagott) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 755376
for: 4 viole da gamba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661034
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725161
"Devil's Trill" Sonata
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749972
from op. 27
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Oboe, Violine, Flöte) und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 749592
Edition Schott
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Cembalo (Klavier); Viola da gamba (Violoncello) ad libitum
Partitur und Stimmen Partitur = Cembalo
Item no.: 749653
Edition Schott
for: Flöte und Violine (Flöte)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 747353
für Violine und Klavier
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 676023
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556327
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663275
for: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597072
für Klavier
teilweise ergänzt, mit Fingersätzen
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661662
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1681479
Band 1: Sonaten 1–4
for: Flute, clarinet (B-flat), piano
2 Scores for playing, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1346463
aus: „Sonates Pour la Flûte-Traversière avec la Baße“, op. 1
Paris, 1726
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6184
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731754
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725112
Sonata 6
ludus instrumentalis 034
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 1657153
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 756271
Edition Schott
for: 1 Blockflöte (S/A/T) oder andere Melodie-Instrumente und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 749683
with the earlier versions of the Adagio according th the autograph. Edited from the autograph, the original edition and further early sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1670384
transkribiert für zwei Violinen oder zwei Klarinetten
(Orig. in B für Fagott und Violoncello)
for: 2 violins [clarinets]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3431
K. 491 (Longo 164)
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2486
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 733699
and Bc
for: KAMMERMUSIK TASTEN-/BALG- + HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE GEMISCHTE DUOS
Item no.: 1688139
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 756272
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwidestay on Stretta Music Denmark