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: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264081
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 311051
op. 3/1 und 6
for: Guitar
Item no.: 310847
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 302192
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304514
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 304179
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 922082
für 2 Violinen, 3 Violen, Theorbe und Basso continuo
Musica Speciosa
for: 2 VL 3 VA VIOLONE THEORBE BC
Score
Item no.: 557196
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269403
Szonáta G-dúr KV 285/a
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256371
EMB Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 256110
exempla nova 150
for: 2 pianos
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 296226
für Violine oder Zink, Bassinstrument und Bc Stimmen
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Part St
Item no.: 636850
for: Piano
Item no.: 223680
No. 1-3
EMB Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 188226
Formant 3 – Constellation-Miroir
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 189601
Score, Parts
Item no.: 181723
Laudate Dominum In Chordis Et Organo
for: 2 TRP 2 VL 2 VA VDG (POS) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 183932
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 198131
Gitarre-Bibliothek Nr. 69
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 200166
Heft 1
for: Violin
Item no.: 200073
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 199028
Entstehungsgeschichte, Entwurf, Reinschrift und Werkanalyse
Collection d'études musicologiques / Sammlung musikwissenschaftlicher Abhandlungen 69
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 122451
Klassik
for: Flute, piano
Book
Item no.: 395525
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394921
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 394914
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288589
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 285996
for: Flute [violin], piano
Item no.: 284478
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 283843
Just Brass 20
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 279943
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 285156
(Urtext)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284892
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Item no.: 284858
for: 3 cellos, double bass
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 282651
aus "Canzoni Sonatae", 1653
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282481
for: 2 Trompeten (Oboe und Trompete), Streicher und Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281703
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200552
Ed. A. Longo - Sonate 101-150
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 389088
Pour le clavessin sur le goût italien
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 388700
Urtext Collection (Carisch)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 135856
for: 2 bass-viole da gamba [cellos/bassoons]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 443224
for: 2 viole da gamba
2 Scores
Item no.: 443218
for: Viola da gamba, Cembalo (KLAV)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 609490
for: Horn (F)
Music score
Item no.: 466212
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 582409
Bd. II: 4-6
for: Violine, Basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 552446
aus dem Berliner Manuskript Bd. II: Nr. 4-6
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 552444
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