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: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272134
for: 2 Alphorns in Gb & Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271635
for: Bass Trombone or Tuba & Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269524
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268339
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268910
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268906
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1268902
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269328
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269325
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269322
for: 4 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607637
for: Piccolo, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567556
for: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567548
for: 2 Tenor Saxophones & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1716506
for: 2 euphoniums, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1716501
for: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1692596
for: 7 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 7 Trombones, Euphonium & 2 Tubas (5 Brass Choirs)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1692401
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 129474
A Due Cori 52
for: 7 INST (SSATBBB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371259
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1716125
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492410
for: 2 Trombones & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 596186
for: 3 trombones
Sheet music
Item no.: 596026
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595309
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595292
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595288
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595267
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409253
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 337518
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 591464
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594054
for: Horn & Euphonium
Sheet music
Item no.: 593263
for: Horn & Trombone
Sheet music
Item no.: 593262
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593246
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593178
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594718
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594714
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1297323
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1297309
for: Tuba (B-flat), organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1284143
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282805
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282795
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282787
for: Piccolo trumpet, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 598222
for: 3 trumpets, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 598186
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220107
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220236
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220228
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