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: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 420870
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1678454
Schirmer Performance Editions
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1678143
op.53
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1632462
Minghén dal Viulunzèl
for: Cello, basso continuo
2 Scores, 2 Single part
Item no.: 656494
Piano Solo
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316663
"In memoriam"
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031728
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031095
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 404299
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1613235
for four bassoons and double bassoon (Score, parts)
for: 4 bassoons, double bassoon; harpsichord ad lib.
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 646813
aus op. 40
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279338
EMB HI-FI Scores
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 274086
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score
Item no.: 358306
Nr. 7-9
Generalbaßaussetzung vom Herausgeber
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 379511
EMB Musica per chitarra
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 198514
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 273948
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 216626
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776621
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 181051
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 775713
The Brass Press
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462149
“at the end of the century”
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 265548
for: 2 trombones [euphoniums] (bass clef)
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648011
for: 2 trombones (B) [tenor horns]
Ensemble score, solo parts
Item no.: 648001
for: Flute, cello
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031059
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271323
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271312
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271308
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271303
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269420
dedicated to Joseph Haydn
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 581610
Musica Mundi 3
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 159832
für Akkordeon solo
Collection du Jeune Virtuose
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 608431
Contralto e B.C.
for: Recorder and BC
Score
Item no.: 259780
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
aus "Méthode de Clarinette"
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 355057
Performers' Facsimiles 138 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 490666
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
für Altsaxophon und Basso continuo
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Single part Alto saxophone, 2 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 661456
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 290764
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015149
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 161905
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 779238
for: 2 violins
Single part(n)
Item no.: 419697
for: Accordion, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 385816
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162649
Viola part with fingerings and performance notices
for: Clarinet [viola], piano
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 668131
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