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: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 684621
Summer Sonata
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383300
A.W. Kornejew gewidmet
for: Flute, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 380131
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404283
Ausgabe mit Fingersatz
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696694
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 226965
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351510
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200199
BMW 1027
after the viola da gamba sonata in C major
for: Cor anglais, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 628394
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 356103
(Moonlight)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613304
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 407496
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401130
Edited from the autograph and the original print
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 125009
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198401
aus: "Il quarto libro de varie sonate, sinfonie, gagliarde, corrente, e brandi"
Venedig, 1626
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4654
Edition Schott
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 743375
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749503
Triosonate für Violine, Viola da gamba und Basso continuo
for: Violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684311
30 Sonaten für Viola da gamba und Basso continuo
(Basso continuo nicht ausgesetzt)
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 684257
Edition Schott
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 750012
Musica Allegra 16
for: Cello, piano [2 cellos]
Item no.: 326836
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 175707
Edited from the edition Paul Hindemith. Sämtliche Werke by Luitgard Schader
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 754625
new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
3 music scores (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690272
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 287791
für Violine und Generalbass
Heft II: Sonata VI - X
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 304639
Manuskript 2° Ms. Mus. 35 der Universitätsbibliothek Kassel
Georg Friedrich Händel, zugeschrieben
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 643503
pour 2 violons et la basse continue parties
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 632320
Octavo Edition
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 348479
Schirmer Library of Musical Classics
for: Flute; piano ad lib.
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 898531
for: Flute, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 170315
Volume 1 (Sonata 1-3)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 200342
Edited in Chronological order from the manuscript and earliest Printed sources with a preface by Ralph Kirkpatrick
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 395205
Hommage à Franz Schubert
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 300409
aus "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3364
for: FL OB-DAMORE (VL) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418041
EMB Early Chamber Music
for: Flute, guitar
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 135406
Band 1
Perahia-Ausgabe
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1549906
Trompete & Klavier (Organ)
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593191
aus: "Petites Sonates a deux Flûtes Traversieres sans Baße", op. 13
Paris, 1726
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4516
Heft 2
Sonaten B-Dur und g-Moll
for: Treble recorder, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419257
Komponistenportraits
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 124498
aus: VIII Sonate per cembalo, op. 1
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 5749
42 Kompositionen von Johann Sebastian Bach
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 109015
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 817348
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