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: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 228933
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 658890
"Tafelmusik I"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 115968
score and parts
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 596011
Transkription für Viola und Basso continuo
Collegium Musicum - Kölner Reihe Alter Musik
for: Viola, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 584100
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 156434
aus „6 Sonates à une Flute & une Basse Continue“, op. 1
Amsterdam, 1710
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Sheet music, audio files
Item no.: 5621
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 931835
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277224
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277221
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277220
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277119
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277118
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277116
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276989
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276977
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276971
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276964
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276958
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276856
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276854
Edition Immer
Reihe I: Werke aus Kremsier
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351771
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 193189
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 661908
for: 5 saxophones (SAATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 549369
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 465415
for: 2 descant recorders [flutes/oboes/violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 238420
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177122
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 560645
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 745362
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 745361
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 433748
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 555132
for: Cello, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 457421
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664617
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 663875
for: Piano
Item no.: 401226
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401121
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411157
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 228226
for: Cello and Piano [TAB Incl]
Book
Item no.: 395354
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 374540
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318863
in G minor, G major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666058
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 738991
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 735177
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 738510