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 (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696692
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 418035
Sonatas I-III
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116714
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 177969
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
2 music scores
Item no.: 208119
Collection Gérard Abiton Series
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 648851
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 582833
from "Méthode de Clarinette"
für Klarinette und Klavier
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123569
Incl. Cello Version of the Horn Sonata op. 17
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 476246
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160098
Flöte romantisch virtuos
for: Flute [oboe], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 130499
nach dem Quintett op. 34
2 Exemplare zum Spielen erforderlich!
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 361062
(Pastoral)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 477749
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1639251
pour Clarinette sib et Piano
for: Clarinet, piano
Book
Item no.: 169832
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 206905
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269429
Ricordi Settecento Italiano
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 672388
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas 1
An Edition with Elucidation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 886873
WoO 33/4/5
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 638588
for: 4 viole da gamba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661034
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556327
für Klavier
teilweise ergänzt, mit Fingersätzen
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661662
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1681479
Band 1: Sonaten 1–4
for: Flute, clarinet (B-flat), piano
2 Scores for playing, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1346463
with the earlier versions of the Adagio according th the autograph. Edited from the autograph, the original edition and further early sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1670384
and Bc
for: KAMMERMUSIK TASTEN-/BALG- + HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE GEMISCHTE DUOS
Item no.: 1688139
(1936) - Vol. 4
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1350842
für Trompete und Orgel
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 677790
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1657321
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 932062
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1659692
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 1557384
– Title on Special Demand –
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1658081
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 931020
Volume 1: Sonatas 1–3
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 1552254
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1659691
Franz Schubert. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke VII/2/3
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 745299
Franz Schubert. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke VII/2/2
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 745300
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1355319
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 932188
für Flöte und Basso continuo
aus "8 Sonaten für Flöte und Basso continuo"
Artsyrinx extended Playalong
for: Flute
Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 677049
Klavier
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 646925
Edición crítica
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 768892
Band 1
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 648202
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 796756
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 1563115
Band 2: Sonaten 5–8
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 1346448
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