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.
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 491003
K 1-52
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 1
Le Pupitre 31
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 177108
Version for Violoncello
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613318
bearbeitet für Cembalo
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 671306
(Urtext)
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 383713
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 493027
Latin
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 243519
Versions 1913 and 1931
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679499
New edition after the Urtext
for: Violine und Basso continuo (Klavier, Cembalo); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 748208
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 617444
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696041
für Flöte und Klavier
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 269076
für Violoncello und Klavier
Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 664667
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 609782
Edizione Critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 767495
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 257377
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 189530
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Flute
Music score, CD
Item no.: 481954
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 471291
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Descant recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 483317
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 138800
A flat maj, Wq. 49/2, B min, Wq. 55/3, F maj, Wq. 55/5, F min, Wq. 57/6, C min, Wq. 60
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 118929
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191437
Essercizi per gravicembalo
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 779029
for cimbalom with basso continuo
Editing and phrasing marks by Farkas Gyöngyi
Continuo arranged by Tódy Ilona
for: Cimbalom, Basso Continuo
Score, solo part
Item no.: 256284
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160070
Critical Edition
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191140
No.154-213
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 257378
Sonate 274-333
Edizione Critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 191368
Vol. 2: Sonata A flat major Hob. XVI/46) – Landon 31
Performing Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239530
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 483318
Standard Violin Student Repertoire – Masterfully taught by Zakhar Bron
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part, DVD
Item no.: 609913
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 578895
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 622584
The Bartók Performing Editions-Instruktive Ausgaben von Béla Bártok
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 771806
for: Violin
Buch + CD
Item no.: 471903
Hortus Musicus 178
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 122140
Volume 3: Sonata C minor Hob. XVI/20 – Landon 33
Performing Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 239531
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 550009
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256308
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 389049
Parte prima No. 1 - 6
EMB Urtext
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 193252
Edizione critica
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 388953
BWV 1001–1006
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 378868
QV 3:3.2
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Sheet music
Item no.: 2752
(Four Cities)
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 736940
Edition Schott
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 747659
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2872
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
