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.
Johann Christian Bachs Klaviersonaten op. V im Spiegel barocker Formprinzipien und ihre Bearbeitung durch Mozart
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 144590
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 143747
op. 30/3
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 143114
komponiert im alten Stil für König Ludwig II. von Bayern (Erstausgabe) (Münster)
for: 2 violins
2 Scores
Item no.: 152168
Eliot Fisk Master Series
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 155359
for: Guitar
Item no.: 183179
for Flute (Violin), Harpsichord and Violoncello ad libitum
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 177234
op. 67
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 176852
Six Sonatas
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 180331
Musica Rara
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 179459
for: Piano
Item no.: 184623
op. 21/3
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 160931
For two flutes and piano
for: 2 flutes, piano
Book
Item no.: 165593
for: 2 flutes, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 165591
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 165582
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 162672
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 165553
for: 2 saxophones
Item no.: 164525
for: Double bass
Music score
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for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164235
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 301514
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 301256
per viola e pianoforte
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 314675
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216626
Musica Antiqua Bohemica 63
for: Piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 215716
Musica Rara
for: 3 trombones
Item no.: 225992
Erster Satz. Transkribiert für Gitarreop. 27/2
for: Guitar
Item no.: 290662
for: Flute, violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 285900
No. 1 G-Dur
for: 2 violins, cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 281713
Concertino
for: 3 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281618
op. 11/3
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 287819
for: Recorder, harpsichord
Item no.: 283093
Sechs Sonaten
Erstdruck
for: Violin, viola
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282727
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282615
Sechs Sonaten
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 282545
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 223190
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 207296
Nr. 1-3op. 2
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Item no.: 206419
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198215
Volume II
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 133540
for: 2 Trumpets, 2 Tenor- and Bass Trombone
Book
Item no.: 132600
Trauermarsch (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 125098
4. Sonate (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 129634
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 130933
for: Flute, harpsichord
Item no.: 130844
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 138664
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 129474
for: Violin, basso continuo
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