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.
op. 3
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 471884
for Harp and Violin (Flute)
for: Violin [flute], harp
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 475111
for: Horn (F)
Music score
Item no.: 466212
for: 4 bassoons
Score, Parts
Item no.: 481786
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 582409
Bd. II: 4-6
for: Violine, Basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 552446
aus dem Berliner Manuskript Bd. II: Nr. 4-6
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 552444
op. 34
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 479729
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 485763
Hallische Händel-Ausgabe (HHA) IV/10,1
Hardcover
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 580824
for: Violine (1), Violinen (2), Viola (1), Violen (2), Tenor-Blockflöte, Basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 578556
Musica Obligata
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 579565
for: Viola, piano
Item no.: 576165
Mozart / Haydn / J.Chr. Bach / Häßler / Wolf
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 352104
für Bratsche allein
for: Viola
Item no.: 157898
RV 83
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 101668
Triosonate
Alte Musik (Leuckartiana)
for: VL VA CEMB
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 101465
für Posaune und Klavier (Orgel)
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595294
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413712
Heft 2
L'arte del flauto
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419951
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412643
Sonaten Nr. 5-7 für 2 Violinen, 4 Violen und Basso continuo
Musica Speziosa
for: 2 VL 4 VA (VDG) BC
Score
Item no.: 557096
for: Piano
Item no.: 467832
für Klarinette und Klavier
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 466985
for: Cello, Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174870
aus der Orgelsonate Nr. 6 es-moll op. 119
for: Brass ensemble (5-6 parts), organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433549
Carisch Urtext Collection
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 163402
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 131745
Barockmusik für Blockflöte
for: 2 recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 106933
for: Xylophon (S/A/B), Metallophon (S/A) und Glockenspiel (S/A)
Score
Item no.: 108194
Based on the latest research, this sonata was probably composed by Nicolas Chédeville
Original Music for Recorder
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 420898
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Cembalo (Klavier); Viola da gamba (Violoncello) ad libitum
Partitur und Stimmen
Item no.: 420891
op. 1/11HWV 369
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 420821
for: für Gitarre
Item no.: 124204
The True Art of Baroque Flute Playing
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (anthology)
Item no.: 113628
Musik für Blockflöte - Il flauto dolce
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 113457
for: für Altblockflöte und Basso continuo
Item no.: 112974
for: Violine, (Blockflöte) Basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 458609
Hob.VI: 1-6
for: Violin, viola
Ensemble score
Item no.: 127504
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 124763
für Altblockflöte (Querflöte/Oboe/Violine) und Basso continuo
for: Treble recorder [flute, oboe, violin], basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 161434
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 162694
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 365226
op. 15
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 549964
für Cembalo, Klavier oder Hammerflügel
for: TASTEN- UND BALGINSTRUMENTE CEMBALO CEMBALO ZWEIHÄNDIG
Item no.: 371690
Magnificent baroque sonata
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 348287
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute
Music score, CD
Item no.: 348540