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.: 664617
(No. 1–11)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 202152
Nach dem Urtextop. 10/1
for: Piano
Item no.: 355949
op. 2/5
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311055
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 663875
Nr. 13 aus "15 Sonate da camera"
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 356687
Edition Schott
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354109
Sonaten I-III
Hortus Musicus
for: Violin [flute/oboe/viola], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122107
for horn and piano
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404382
Erste Sammlung
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 628807
Nr. 4-7
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 359799
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 413275
Armin Rosin gewidmet
for: Trombone, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 382991
(Urtext)
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score, solo part
Item no.: 383714
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 383482
[CD: Continuo-Begleitung zur Solostimme]
MusicPartner – Klassik zum Mitspielen
for: Flute [violin]
CD
Item no.: 385768
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 214163
Belwin Classic Library
for: Piano
Item no.: 141447
for: Flute, harp
Score, Parts
Item no.: 176499
for: Piano
Item no.: 169232
2 copies required
Kalmus Classic Series
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 763149
for: Clarinet, bassoon
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279857
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 456946
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 1552693
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Item no.: 333467
Heft 1, Nr. 1–3
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418070
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 901347
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113597
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279352
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 193189
La flute amusante
for: 3 treble recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419201
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418113
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 419145
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 420395
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418806
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 174345
Sonaten 1-3
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419205
bearbeitet für Klarinette in B und Klavier
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 155131
Sechs Sonaten für Violine und Klavier
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 284543
Opera Decima Sesta (1693)
for: Flexible ensemble
Music score
Item no.: 779302
K 458-506
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 10
Le Pupitre 40
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177122
K 358-407
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 8
Le Pupitre 38
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177115
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239534
for: 2 descant recorders [flutes/oboes/violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 238420
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 1031339
"Spring Sonata"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 764099
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 688580
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