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: Flute [violin], harp
Item no.: 130360
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 773700
for: Clarinet, viola
Ensemble score
Item no.: 217108
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 486360
BMW 1027
after the viola da gamba sonata in C major
for: Cor anglais, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 628394
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 216883
for violin and piano
IMC 3201 is part of this edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161906
Musica Rara
trumpet part in B, C and D
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 343814
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 414171
for: Bass clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284688
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 200199
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 351510
nach den Quellen herausgegeben
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 670231
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491047
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 279907
for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord
Volume II: Sonatas IV-VI
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116715
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 378468
Edited from the autograph and the original print
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 125009
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 226965
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4207
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 122119
from "Der getreue Musikmeister"
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 173004
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 282000
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 356103
Flute Music
for: Flute, violin, viola da gamba [cello], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 117445
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404283
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 312714
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 217214
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 160553
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 622114
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383300
(Kreutzer-Sonata)
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160706
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 384954
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401330
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198401
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 340421
for Cello and Piano
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214312
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401130
for: Flute
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 181037
(Moonlight)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613304
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 407496
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 166412
Triosonate für Violine, Viola da gamba und Basso continuo
for: Violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684311
30 Sonaten für Viola da gamba und Basso continuo
(Basso continuo nicht ausgesetzt)
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 684257
Manuskript 2° Ms. Mus. 35 der Universitätsbibliothek Kassel
Georg Friedrich Händel, zugeschrieben
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 643503
Hommage à Franz Schubert
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 300409
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