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: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score
Item no.: 162253
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551125
for: ABFL BC / FAKSIMILE
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 262248
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Item no.: 556538
L'arte del violino
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418013
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 419787
for: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 175777
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 334672
for: VL KLAR VC
Item no.: 381389
for: Trombone/Tuba and Piano
Book
Item no.: 168939
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 165581
Vol. 3: Sonaten 13–18
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202228
Vol. 2: Sonaten 7–12
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202211
KV 282
for: Bläserquintett und Kontrabass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 429268
Klassik
for: Violin [or Flute] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238648
F.Xiii-47 - Tomo 491
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263201
F.Xv-3 - Tomo 490
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263200
F 13/33 T 398
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263115
Partitura
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 259324
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269501
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459978
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354955
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672454
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279909
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108824
ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces 2016-2019
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 197989
für Violine und Klavier
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 636364
für zwei Klaviere zu vier Händen
for: 2 pianos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 662763
for: Mandoline und Basso continuo
Item no.: 549696
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 607531
Op. 1 N. 12 - F.Xiii-28 - Tomo 393
for: 2 Violins and Cello [Basso Continuo]
Score
Item no.: 389426
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 559755
Great Performer's Edition
for: 2 violins
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 318084
Volume 1: Sonatas 1–5
Russian Piano Classics (Authentic Edition)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 197618
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401144
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664646
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160710
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 155799
for cimbalom with basso continuo
Editing and phrasing marks by Farkas Gyöngyi
Continuo arranged by Tódy Ilona
for: Cimbalom, Basso Continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 256284
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160070
Critical Edition
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191140
Essercizi per gravicembalo
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 779029
Venezia 1712
Canzone Suite Sonata
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 314050
for: 2 VL VDG (VC) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580762
Volume I
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 764097
Die auf dem Clavier spielende Cæcilia
8 Sonaten
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 696966
for Flute and Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 477253
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
Worldwide
