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: 7 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 7 Trombones, Euphonium & 2 Tubas (5 Brass Choirs)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1636966
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696699
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 696548
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696693
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 195930
for: Cello, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 471813
für Violine und Klavier
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 661897
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 561748
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696695
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556712
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1657321
for: Euphonium, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556646
for flute and piano
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 683907
for: Brass ensemble (8 voices)
Score
Item no.: 353295
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696698
Klassik
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 270972
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 616354
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 490507
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 642675
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 578895
For two flutes and piano
for: 2 flutes, piano
Book
Item no.: 1657324
6 sonatas
Early Music
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1209633
Early Music
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1209634
6 sonatas
Early Music
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1677521
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 376557
for: Trombone/Tuba and Piano
Book
Item no.: 149509
Europaeische Musik - Tschechien Kremsier~Tschechische Barockmusik Bd 81
for: 3 Posaune, 3 Violinen, Violoncello, Kontrabass Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 385457
for: 2 pianos, percussion
Piano score
Item no.: 197724
for: 2 VL (FL) BC
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 460292
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162232
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 161400
With supplementary violoncello part marked by Maria Kliegel
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 665543
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 584646
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 465415
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Partitur, Stimmensatz, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 164405
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 231123
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 444369
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score
Item no.: 358306
op. 37
for: Violine, Violoncello und Harfe (Klavier)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 553694
for: Violin, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 780856
for: Viola, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 780857
Transcription of the Cello Sonata
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 582652
Einrichtung des Violinparts von C. I. Thorsson, des Flötenparts von K. Öhman
for: Violin [flute], harp
Item no.: 181656
Wv 445 / 1-6
for: 3 cellos, double bass
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 223647
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 282483
Wv 445 / 1-6
for: 3 cellos, double bass
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1669759
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1659690
Vier szenische Sonaten für Darsteller, eine Sängerin und Kammerensemble (1994/1995)
for: Voice, ensemble
Score
Item no.: 579674
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