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.
für Flöte (Violine) und Harfe
for: Flute [violin], harp
Item no.: 130360
Universal Saxophone Edition
for: Saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113652
The Platinum Series
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 486360
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 181037
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 655272
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 773700
Summer Sonata
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
A.W. Kornejew gewidmet
for: Flute, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 380131
Ausgabe mit Fingersatz
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696694
Edited from the autograph and the original print
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 125009
Priestman V
Musica Rara
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 414171
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 356103
for: FL (VL/ABFL) VA-DAMORE (VDG) BC (CEMB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581987
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 384954
op. 2
for: Harfe (Violine)
Item no.: 549540
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163191
for: Bass clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284688
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 113253
for Cello and Piano
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214312
Musica Rara
trumpet part in B, C and D
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 343814
aus: Il Quarto Libro de Varie Sonate Sinfonie Gagliarde Brandi e Corrente
Venedig 1642
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6086
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200199
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198401
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 226965
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 459448
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 166412
for: 2 cellos
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 404337
from "Der getreue Musikmeister"
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 173004
Nach dem Originaldruck (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125011
für Oboe oder C-Blockflöte und Gitarre
for: Oboe [recorder], guitar
Score, solo part
Item no.: 262044
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 282000
Leineneinband
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401330
for: Clarinet, viola
Ensemble score
Item no.: 217108
Hortus Musicus 139
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 122119
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404283
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401130
for: Violin, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418838
Chester Woodwind Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279907
pour le viollon et pour le clavecin
Volume 1: Sonata I (d), Sonata II (D)
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 272287
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 312714
Collection Hedwig Bilgram
for: Trumpet (C) [oboe], organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 200664
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 619645
TWV 41:36,g6,a3,B6 Tafelmusik III
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 217214
(Moonlight)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613304
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491047
Version for Arpeggione and Piano
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 666174
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 407496
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383300
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