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: Flexible ensemble (3–4 parts)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1738706
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 930866
for: 2 oboes
Ensemble score
Item no.: 658305
L'arte del violino
for: Violin, basso continuo
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for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Ensemble score, solo part
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for: Cello, Basso continuo, Cello
Ensemble score, solo part
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for: 9 Flöten und Kontrabass
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Item no.: 587064
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 691748
for: Flute, piano
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for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
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for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198215
for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 4563
Nach dem Erstdruck herausgegeben
Camera flauto Amadeus
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 498922
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 630906
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279338
for: Tenor-Blockflöte, Cembalo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117694
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 420958
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 287819
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 355435
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113403
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Item no.: 206419
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 138664
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 127517
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 127513
Trauermarsch (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 125098
for: 2 violins, cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 281713
for: Piano [harpsichord] four hand
Ensemble score
Item no.: 289053
for: Flute, oboe, piano
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Item no.: 101676
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 353960
for: Guitar
Item no.: 290662
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1702644
for: 2 Sopran-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354316
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 445836
for: Brass ensemble (8 voices)
Score
Item no.: 353295
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 358212
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314675
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351838
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256612
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 180553
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256476
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Viola, piano
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for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 198514
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678454
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
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for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], guitar
Score, solo part
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