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.
6 Sonaten für Altblockflöte (Fl. , Vl.) u. B. c.
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 215825
for: fürTrompete und Orchester
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 559153
For two flutes and piano
for: 2 flutes, piano
Book
Item no.: 165594
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162654
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781321
GWV 711
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 649505
Die letzten Sonaten – Kritische Einführung und Erläuterung
for: Piano
Book
Item no.: 124176
for: Flute
Book
Item no.: 1018279
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 238539
Klassik
for: Flute [or Oboe, or Violin] and Bass Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238484
F.Xiv/1 - Tomo 473
for: Cello and BC
Score
Item no.: 263184
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424021
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 424026
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354954
QV 1:110
Einzelstimme Fl.
for: Flute, basso continuo
Single part Flute
Item no.: 424169
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461735
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459978
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672454
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354955
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355349
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424024
for: für Trompete und Orchester Violine 2
Single part
Item no.: 645182
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459979
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354958
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461733
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424023
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351865
ars instrumentalis 018
for: HRN SOLO
Single part
Item no.: 168488
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355348
for: Trombone
Single part
Item no.: 493706
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355347
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354956
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355346
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Single part Cello
Item no.: 424025
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461721
Nr. 61-90
Band 3
for: Piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 647508
für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen, Violone und Baß
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623251
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354957
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 461731
Reihe Musica Retiosa
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 378264
für 2 Violinen und Bc
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 226375
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 147571
Puer Natus In Bethlehem
for: 2 VL VDG (POS) BC
Score
Item no.: 132511
Tschechische Barockmusik 23
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 289425
Musik Des 17 Jahrhunderts Bd 18
for: 2 VL 2 VA VC 3 OB FAG 2 SBFL 2 TBFL POS
Score
Item no.: 294506
a Violino o flauto traverso col basse per l’organo, op. 6
Bruxelles, 1731
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3542
Strube Instrumentalmusik
for: Treble recorder, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 166770
Einzelausgabe für Akkordeon Solo, Standardbass M II
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 761859