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: 4 trombones (quartet)
Item no.: 556538
for: Treble recorder, oboe, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1015340
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
für Altsaxophon und Basso continuo
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Single part (Alto saxophone solo)
Item no.: 678151
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 200538
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 369888
Proprius
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 492477
KV 282
for: Bläserquintett und Kontrabass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 429268
Vol. 3: Sonaten 13–18
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202228
Vol. 2: Sonaten 7–12
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202211
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269501
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score
Item no.: 162253
for: ABFL BC / FAKSIMILE
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 262248
for: Trombone/Tuba and Piano
Book
Item no.: 168939
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 165581
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781340
for: VL KLAR VC
Item no.: 381389
for: Violin, viola
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282723
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 207200
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263251
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263121
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263201
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263200
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263115
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 259324
for: Violin [or Flute] and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 238648
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 419787
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 263178
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1565285
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1565291
Buch
Item no.: 251298
for: Violin and Bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 622542
MADERS KLEINE MUSIKBIBLIOTHEK
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 631795
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 551104
for: Flute, guitar
Buch
Item no.: 338104
Book
Item no.: 363352
Band I: 6 Sonaten ABV 12–17
for: Cello, basso continuo
Item no.: 1651208
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 347179
for: 2 VC BC
Item no.: 277582
for: 2 VL 2 OB 2 FL BC
Partitur, Stimmen
Item no.: 621151
for: Mandolin, guitar
Score, part
Item no.: 669724
per viola e pianoforte
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 776035
Heft 4: Passionop. 30
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 115639
eingerichtet für Linkshänder
for: Piano
Item no.: 177260
Performers' Facsimiles 77
Item no.: 620795
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 383584