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.
Six Sonatas for Musette, Hurdy Gurdy, Flute, Oboe or Violin and Basso continuo
attributed to Antonio Vivaldi
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 669078
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 394494
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304822
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282547
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 379107
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 607111
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4195
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1200
for: Flute [treble recorder/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6109
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Book
Item no.: 388825
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 359025
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 369652
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493027
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 419146
"Moonlight Sonata"
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 378598
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 662434
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1001
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401122
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Score, part
Item no.: 226484
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 469395
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 693604
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 558900
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288583
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 244565
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 244564
for: Piano
Item no.: 303806
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 363441
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 247962
for: Cello and Harp
Book
Item no.: 643231
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso continuo; Violoncello ad libitum
Item no.: 420962
for: Piano
Item no.: 355957
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, part
Item no.: 155515
Volume II
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401168
Ausgabe für Viola und Klavier
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383214
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Cello, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 649618
op. 27, 111, 146, 168, 175, 181
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 776524
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580763
Collection Thierry Mathis
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 165848
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1544110
Collection Thierry Mathis
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 105688
pour Violon (Oboe/Flöte), Basse pour la Viole avec Basse chiffrée
Collection Thierry Mathis
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 105686
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 200282
Sechs Sonaten
I-III
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108975
TWV 42:a6
Partitur / Einzelstimmen
for: Treble recorder, oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 234674
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 656505
Hausmusik 248
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409427
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