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
Item no.: 748970
aus: Zwölf Kasseler Sonaten für Viola da Gamba und Basso continuo (Basso continuo ausgesetzt)
Händel zugeschrieben
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 643508
Minghén dal Viulunzèl
for: Cello, basso continuo
2 Scores, 2 Single part
Item no.: 656494
(Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 363787
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score
Item no.: 358306
Aus der Zeit Friedrichs II.
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 353960
per viola e pianoforte
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314675
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 207296
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418517
The Brass Press
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462149
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749725
for: Baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1015324
for alto saxophone and piano (organ)
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594718
Armenian Composers Series
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1022560
for: Flute, violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 285900
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282787
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220228
für Trompete in C und Klavier
for: Trumpet (C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 659450
new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690278
in F minor, A major, C major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 656597
op. 5
for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 190686
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 763426
Nr. 1-3op. 2
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Item no.: 206419
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216626
divise in studii e divertimenti
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 962519
Band 3: Sonate 7-9
Camera Flauto Amadeus 140
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Item no.: 297771
For Violin Solo (Joachim/Moser)
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 404538
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198215
für Violine und Cembalo
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, solo part, audio files (pdf/mp3 download)
Item no.: 674858
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 129474
KV 19d
for: Cembalo oder Klavier 4-händig
Item no.: 289053
Musica con Clarino 10b
Originalkompositionen mit Naturtrompete(n)
for: Trumpet (C), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1351480
for: Piano
Item no.: 605313
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 378470
for: Piano
Item no.: 184623
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 359691
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 380211
Nr. 7-9
Generalbaßaussetzung vom Herausgeber
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 379511
Sechs Sonaten
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282545
Six Sonatas
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 180331
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 363782
Moonlight
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 471258
Pour Violoncelle & Piano
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411733
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 687418
op. 184
Partitur
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 269263
"Sonates sans Basse"
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409253
für Viola da Gamba und B.c. oder andere Instrumente
Sonaten I-III
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 571548
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