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: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2479
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 367682
for: 2 trombones [euphoniums] (bass clef)
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648011
for: 2 trombones (B) [tenor horns]
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648001
for: Flute, cello
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031059
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1022560
for: Piano
Item no.: 605313
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418900
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413699
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 817436
for: Clarinet (B-flat)
Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 224283
Edition Schott
for: 3 Melodie-Instrumente (Violinen, Flöten, Oboen) oder Streichorchester und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba, Fagott) ad libitum
Partitur = Cembalo, Klavier
Item no.: 746788
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 759214
for: Trumpet (D/a), strings, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 621147
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 482565
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 265548
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031728
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031095
for: 2 Fagotte (Violoncelli)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 779936
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759627
TWV 41:C2,F2,f1,B3
from "Der Getreue Musikmeister"
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 200575
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1021601
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462149
for: 2 Violins and Cello [Basso Continuo]
Score
Item no.: 263109
for: Recorder and BC
Score
Item no.: 259780
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 562809
for: Violin and Cimbalon
Buch
Item no.: 112339
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 388621
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 227863
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 763426
for: Violin [flute], cello, piano [harpsichord]
Score, 3 Single part
Item no.: 763271
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411733
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 411130
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 388622
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 770898
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 257316
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263261
for: Lute, Violin and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 262504
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 672247
for: 2 VL VDG FAG BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 605020
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 602351
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1341246
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413470
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 413464
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 245011
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 775713
from "12 Sonatas for a Flute with a Thorough Bass"
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749656
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419191
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