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: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383474
for: Clarinet
Item no.: 261566
for Recorder and Basso continuo
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 425060
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 561966
for: Organ 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 662527
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179564
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Playback-CD (without sheet music)
Item no.: 143422
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 675134
for: Violin, cello
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 177200
for: Sopran-Blockflöte und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420775
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 491382
Op. 1 № 13, HWV 371
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6378
for 2 violoncelli
for: 2 cellos
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 404189
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 269076
no. 19 and no. 20 g minor and G major op. 49 no. 1 and no. 2
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683710
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 661780
mit hinzugefügter Klavierbegleitung (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 383717
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 257451
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162272
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 186350
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 176446
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE QUERFLÖTE QUERFLÖTE SOLO
Item no.: 431567
Version for Viola
with marked and unmarked string parts
Free Download of Arpeggione part
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 174171
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 862546
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 848887
for: Saxophone
Music score
Item no.: 240311
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 238323
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1688094
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 478306
volume 1: Nos. 1–3
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 1668432
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 627866
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 118940
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 197563
Hanns Eisler Complete Edition (HEGA) Serie IV/10
for: Piano
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 657983
Facsimile of the Draft Score and Paul Sacher's Annotated Full Score Copy
for: 2 pianos, percussion
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 683631
for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 498468
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 487292
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1024909
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 587234
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 769944
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
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: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 773058
for: 2 Cellos or 2 Bassoons
Book
Item no.: 266525
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 490507
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