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: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1702352
(früher A. Vivaldi zugeschrieben)
Reihe 12: Kammermusik und Studienliteratur
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 155938
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 769944
for: 2 pianos, percussion
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 683631
Style, Structure, Performance
for: Violin
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 863896
A Handbook for Performers
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 920752
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas 4
An Edition with Elucidation
for: Piano
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 885933
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 490507
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 616354
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 775384
for: 2 Cellos or 2 Bassoons
Book
Item no.: 266525
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 773058
with notes on interpretation by Artur Schnabel
Volume 2 (sonatas 13-23)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 282006
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 642675
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316264
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 642717
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 118936
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 492612
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 261702
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 627868
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 118941
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 494383
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 481945
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 131616
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 321330
for: Trumpet, organ
Book
Item no.: 240703
for: Flute and Bass
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 668750
for: Violin, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 658870
Pratica musicale 3
– keine Generalbass-Aussetzung –
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 335614
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas 2
An Edition with Elucidation
for: Piano
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 888235
ABRSM (Grade 6) to the end of 2020
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 963852
Edited from the sources and provided with Notes on Interpretation
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 606980
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 586823
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 145638
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 124413
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 238622
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239532
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 197534
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 372610
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 627970
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 494375
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 257379
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 368752
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas 1
An Edition with Elucidation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 886873
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 638588
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 672388
No. 69
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 322990
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1148429
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