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.: 763426
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411733
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781159
for violin or flute and basso continuo
Urtext
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 115325
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score
Item no.: 358306
for: Violin, cello [viola]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661195
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 585814
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 584629
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 238277
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238445
for: Recorder [or Flute, or Oboe, or Violin] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238444
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 608431
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 620980
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 133540
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 367682
in F minor, A major, C major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 656597
Volume I
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 603475
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696698
Nach dem Erstdruck herausgegeben
Camera flauto Amadeus
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 498922
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 745644
replaces HN 1312
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796426
for: Horn, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 300860
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 859304
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 176852
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 207296
for: 2 violins
2 Scores
Item no.: 152168
for: Tenor-Blockflöte, Cembalo
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 117694
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 420958
for: Piano
Item no.: 184623
for: Flute, cello, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 173164
for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Item no.: 113826
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113403
for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 190686
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 143114
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 672247
for: 2 trombones [euphoniums] (bass clef)
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648011
for: 2 trombones (B) [tenor horns]
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648001
Item no.: 611363
for: Violin [flute], cello, piano [harpsichord]
Score, 3 Single part
Item no.: 763271
for: Horn (F) [cello], piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 696019
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 571548
for: 2 VL VDG FAG BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 605020
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 602351
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 630906
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLINE VIOLINE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 194207
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 442606
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 181951
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