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.: 401343
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 187582
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 142596
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2872
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Sheet music
Item no.: 2752
for: Violin [flute], cello [bassoon]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3440
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 202008
Hob. XVI: 7, 9, 4, 8
edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 553384
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 604926
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, 2 ensemble scores
Item no.: 286069
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 382396
Edited from the autographs and the first edition
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 214569
for: Piano
Item no.: 356041
for: Piano
Item no.: 288003
Entstehung, Analyse und Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1008999
Kompositionen für Gitarre und Streichinstrumente
for: Violin, guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759573
Gestatteter Nachdruck (1928, Universal Edition, Wien)
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1203031
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418404
for: INST (2-3) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 579419
Edition Immer
Reihe VII: Kammermusik mit Trompete
for: Trumpet [oboe], violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351433
Zehn Sonaten
Band II: Sonaten 6–10
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 485584
Sechs Sonaten
IV-VI
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1108976
for: SATB Recorders
Score, Parts
Item no.: 457209
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309581
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 131957
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220461
Innsbruck, 1660
Musik am Hofe zu Innsbruck Band 1
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 157799
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 552363
per il Contrabasso e Viola obligato
for: Viola, double bass [double bass, piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 695973
for: Flute, violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 115856
Flute Music
for: Flute, violin, viola da gamba [cello], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 117445
Universal Saxophone Edition
for: Saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113652
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 655272
Summer Sonata
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 771324
for: FL (VL/ABFL) VA-DAMORE (VDG) BC (CEMB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581987
op. 2
for: Harfe (Violine)
Item no.: 549540
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163191
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 113253
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 312714
op. 1
Sonaten 1–4
for: Recorder [flute, violin, oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 160890
Nach dem Originaldruck (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125011
Hortus Musicus 139
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 122119
for: Violin, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 418838
pour le viollon et pour le clavecin
Volume 1: Sonata I (d), Sonata II (D)
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 272287
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 166412
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 459448
Collection Hedwig Bilgram
for: Trumpet (C) [oboe], organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 200664
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 619645
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