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: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162644
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163691
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 678975
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 238443
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 376557
Music for Recorder R 166
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 635699
Revised and fingered
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 732421
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part subbass recorder in f
Item no.: 1655499
Barockmusik für Saxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, basso continuo
Piano score, single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 776875
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1557445
Neun Sonaten für zwei Violinen, Orgel und Violoncello/Bass (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: String orchestra, organ
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1655160
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 770725
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 796132
for: 2 oboes [flutes/ violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1646184
Fassung für Harfe und Violoncello
Louis Spohr - Gesamtwerk für Harfe
for: Cello, harp
Single part Cello
Item no.: 656488
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part tenor recorder 1
Item no.: 634578
nach der Sonate f-Moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und Bc
eingerichtet für Blockflötenensemble SATTB
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part great bass recorder in c
Item no.: 1655500
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 211197
for: FL (OB/VL/ABFL) BC
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 483767
revidiert, mit Fingersatz versehen und in Form von Suiten geordnet
for: Piano
Item no.: 462777
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 551103
Erstdruck
Erstdruck
for: 2 violins, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297236
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263304
Op. 2 N. 6 - F.XIII-34 - Tomo 399
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263116
Op. 2 N. 2 - F.XIII-30 - Tomo 395
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263112
In Fa Min.
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1566418
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 467935
Tschechische Barockmusik 11
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 442521
Denkmaeler Der Musik In Salzburg (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 362045
Early Ensemble Series 5b
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Item no.: 363601
for: Harpsichord
Item no.: 459453
Performers' Facsimiles
for: FL (1-2) VC
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 376703
Musica Speciosa
for: 2 VL 3 VA BC
Score
Item no.: 340366
(Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 341482
for: Flute, piano
Score
Item no.: 341417
Musica Pretiosa
for: Oboe 2 Violinen, Viola, Fagott, (Viola da gamba) Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 476103
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459981
for: FL VL CEMB
Score, Parts
Item no.: 347346
Shumilov Facsimile Collection (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 280703
Bd.2: Sonaten 4-6
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 203265
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Item no.: 135119
Tschechische Barockmusik 35
for: Trompete, 2 ZINK (OB), Streicher, Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 133934
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 349510
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 446701
for: 5 Blockflöten (SSATB) 5 Streicher, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 607404
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 139951
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 776914
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