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: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 198510
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1479716
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696015
with marked and unmarked string parts
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401516
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 661684
Urtext from the New Bach Edition – Revised (NBArev)
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 773593
for: Organ
Item no.: 201971
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 155616
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 559755
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664646
ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces 2016-2019
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 197989
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401144
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 155799
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160710
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 583369
Collegium Musicum
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 604181
Musique Française
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1054436
Nach Autographen und Erstausgaben
Band 1 (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125028
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 444015
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366845
(Spring)
marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401128
A sonata for two clarinets - one in Bb and one in A.
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279855
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 583370
Szonáta
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 255950
Solo flute à bec
Manuskript Rostock
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 330372
pour guitare
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 884900
Edition for Violoncello and Piano
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 331283
for: Harp
Music score
Item no.: 583134
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 630406
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401407
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 205443
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 315684
für Flöte und Bc
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE QUERFLÖTE QUERFLÖTE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 446857
Pieces from Frescobaldi, Castello and Fontana
for: Sopran- oder Tenor-Blockflöte (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 731478
Edition Schott
for: 2 cellos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279425
für Klavier
for: Piano
Item no.: 393469
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116551
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 206905
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223884
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696706
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 334392
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491003
bearbeitet für Cembalo
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 671306
Version for Violoncello
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613318
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493027
Latin
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 243519
Versions 1913 and 1931
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679499
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