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: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 1287649
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287645
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287614
"Appassionata"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 620980
aus "12 Cello Sonatas" op. 2
for: Cello, Basso continuo, Cello
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117110
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115325
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1690834
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn (F) [cello], piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 696019
"Sonates sans Basse"
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409253
Das Blockflötenrepertoire
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413699
op. 1
for: 2 Blockflöten (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 106934
aus op. 2
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 420958
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108212
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 357694
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 191373
TWV 41:C2,F2,f1,B3
from "Der Getreue Musikmeister"
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 200575
for: 4 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607637
Sonaten 4-6
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419206
for: 2 Alphorns in Gb & Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271635
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277112
Klassik
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276988
Klassik
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276987
Klassik
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276983
Klassik
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276981
Klassik
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276970
Klassik
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276966
Klassik
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276956
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276860
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with French and Spanish Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 640884
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 723599
Collection Gaspar Hoyos
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 859304
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282615
from the baroque and classical periods
arranged for 2 clarinets
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score (anthology)
Item no.: 621666
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393341
Sonatas 4-6
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 754217
Edition Schott
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723261
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401377
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 143747
KV 19d
for: Cembalo oder Klavier 4-händig
Item no.: 289053
Partitur
for: ORCHESTERWERKE STREICHORCHESTER SOLO-TROMPETE
Score
Item no.: 273293
für Trompete und Klavier
for: Trumpet, piano
Item no.: 229038
Heft III
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122128
for Solo Violin
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 321456
Introduzione e Allegro con pavana
(Omaggio a Robert Schumann)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 773706
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 420870
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678454
Schirmer Performance Editions
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1678143
op.53
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1632462
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