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: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 187163
for: Organ 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 563439
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696693
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479649
for: Violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 645980
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401325
Band IV: 8 Sonaten (ABV 32–39)
Erstausgabe
for: Cello, basso continuo
Ensemble score
Item no.: 776664
(Longo n.57/93/366/383/424)
trascrizione per fisarmonica a bassi scialti di Alessandro Di Zio
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 254605
aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 628024
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 467654
for: 2 VL VDG (VC) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580762
suivies d'un nombre de pièces
for: 2 cellos [viole da gamba/bassoons]
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 465233
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418215
für Klavier und Violoncello
Louise Farrenc Kritische Ausgabe Band 7
for: Cello, piano
Score, solo part
Item no.: 148362
Die auf dem Clavier spielende Cæcilia
8 Sonaten
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 696966
for: Mandoline und Basso continuo
Item no.: 549696
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 122089
for 2 Treble Recorders and Continuo
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 244962
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 155797
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 732405
Studien-Edition
for: Violin
Study score
Item no.: 223363
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 113052
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 303536
for: Piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 117326
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 182645
for: Accordion, piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 428684
(Urtext)
for: Piano
Item no.: 420187
for: VL (FL/OB) FAG (VA/VDG/VC) BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 608596
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 216834
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 211521
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 554869
[CD:Cembalo-Begleitung zur Solostimme]
MusicPartner - Klassik zum Mitspielen
CD
Item no.: 385784
for: 2 violins, cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 281714
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (anthology)
Item no.: 478727
for: Treble recorder
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 552977
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, solo part
Item no.: 288581
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 607531
for: 2 violins
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 318084
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 241916
for: 3 treble recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420967
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 185907
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 490722
for: Flute, bassoon [cello]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 131383
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 696214
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 195930
for: Clarinet, piano
Score
Item no.: 263780
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 158510
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164673
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