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.
Great Performer's Edition
for: 2 violins
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 318084
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401144
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664646
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160710
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 155799
Chamber Music Of The Seventeenth Century 5
for: 2 violins [descant recorders/cornetts], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 298050
A sonata for two clarinets - one in Bb and one in A.
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279855
Nach Autographen und Erstausgaben
Band 1 (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125028
Collegium Musicum
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 604181
Musique Française
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1054436
Revised edition, 1994
includes audio demonstration and accompaniment tracks
for: Flute, piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 638505
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366845
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 315684
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 205443
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401378
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116551
Edition Schott
for: 2 cellos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279425
with marked and unmarked string parts.
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160396
(Urtext)
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 383713
K 1-52
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 1
Le Pupitre 31
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177108
bearbeitet für Cembalo
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 671306
Version for Violoncello
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613318
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493027
Latin
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 243519
Versions 1913 and 1931
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679499
für Flöte und Klavier
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 269076
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 617444
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Descant recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 483317
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 138800
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191437
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 483318
for: Violin
Buch + CD
Item no.: 471903
Hortus Musicus 178
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122140
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256308
Parte prima No. 1 - 6
EMB Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 193252
for: Bassoon, piano
Item no.: 475543
für Violine (Zink) und Bc (Bc nicht ausgesetzt)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661315
Urtext
Edition Kammermusik
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 604926
Venezia 1620
for: Violine (Kornett oder Alt-Blockflöte) und continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 585346
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 419151
for: 2 bassoons [cellos]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 200269
ergänzt von Rudolf Lutz nach dem Fragment von Mendelssohn in der Bodleian Library in Oxford
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 615245
for: Treble recorder [flute], piano
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 576863
for: Bassoon, cello [basso continuo]
Piano score, ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 471024
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 202008
Complete Works 6
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 105777
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796433
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 418902
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwide
stay on Stretta Music Finland
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
