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.
(Facsimile)
for: 2 violins [flutes], basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 499201
for: Horn (F), piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 671538
for: 1 Blockflöte (S/A/T) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 741955
Edition Schott
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 742710
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 796659
op. 5/7
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 728729
Ausgabe für Englischhorn mit Orchester
for: Cor anglais, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 671084
for: Flöte und Klavier, Basso ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725160
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 746625
No. 5 G Major and No. 6 C Major
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 746894
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723140
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 749383
from: Méthode de clarinette
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Music score
Item no.: 747520
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567559
for: Trumpet [oboe], baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1667357
Band 3: Sonaten 9-12
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, 2 playing scores
Item no.: 1346436
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1658790
Camera Flauto Amadeus 145
for: 3 ABFL BC / 2 ABFL VC BC
Item no.: 1653259
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 739719
aus "XII Sonate à Flauto Traversiere Solo é Basso", op. 2
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2484
for: 2 FL (OB/KLAR) KLAR (FAG)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1659988
Edition Schott
for: Bratsche und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 748523
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso continuo; Violoncello ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 754220
for flute and piano
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1689276
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567542
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 756273
aus: Sonate da Camera a Violino solo op. 2
Modena, c. 1694
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5377
for: 1–3 violins, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009372
aus: Sei Sonate per Cembalo con Accompagnamento di Violino
for: Violin, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 6133
from: 10 easy Sonatas
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 751036
Edited from the first edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 734187
Spring
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749011
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1668495
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567543
after the version for harpsichord
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 779251
Edition Schott
for: Trompete hoch in G, 2 Trompeten (B), Flügelhorn (B), Bass-Trompete (C), 2 Tenor-Posaunen und Bass-Posaune
Score
Item no.: 726736
for: Violin, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1672006
D Major, G Major
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 747338
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 692875
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 1651516
from "Cat's fugue"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 744100
Barockmusik für Saxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 776876
for one to for instrumental parts (violino, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, trombone, bassono) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009377
aus: "Sonate di Gravicembalo"
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2762
6 sonatas
Early Music
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1209633
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 754334
No. 3 from "15 Sonate da Camera"
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 740538
for violin solo
for: Violin
Single edition
Item no.: 779985
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