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: TRP 3 POS 2 VL 3 VA VC (KB) BC
Score
Item no.: 183260
for: Percussion, piano
Score
Item no.: 143781
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 833446
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Score
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for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
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Score
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for: Cello
Score
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for: Guitar
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for: Descant recorder, viola da gamba, basso continuo
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for: Flute, piano
Set of parts
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Music score
Item no.: 324359
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 649567
for: VL KLAV CD (11)
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 615820
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263144
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263250
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Musette [Hurdy Gurdy, Flute, Oboe, Violin] and BC
Score
Item no.: 263180
for: Piano
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 167187
for: Flute, piano
Score
Item no.: 411872
Edited from the first edition
for: 2 violas, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215464
for: TRP (VL/OB/FL) 2 VL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 242188
for: 2 flutes [violins], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632556
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551109
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Single part(n)
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for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420171
Fontana Di Musica 57
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for: Violin, piano
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op. 30
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113706
KV 310
for: Bläserquintett und Kontrabass ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 429357
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 796144
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 884981
for: Recorder, piano
Music score
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for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161893
Nr. 4 aus "Sechs Sonaten op 24"
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 366641
for: 2 Violoncelli and Piano
Book
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 180739
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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Score
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for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1018376
for: Violin, piano
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for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
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for: Piano
Music score
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for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Treble recorder (single part)
Item no.: 634585
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