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.
Urtext
Edition Kammermusik
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1552080
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1351563
Perahia-Ausgabe
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1551832
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1544281
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1534669
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, narrator
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1534637
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 1550116
Band 1
Perahia-Ausgabe
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1549906
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549630
Manuscripts of the Neapolitan school in first edition
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 1549642
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1549206
Band IV: 14-18 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549110
Band I: 1-4 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549098
Band II: 5-8 [Erstdruck]
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1549108
Notenausgabe des ersten Satzes der Sonate (Adagio)
for: Flute [violin], piano [harpsichord, organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 6831
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 6829
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1544110
No. 4 A minor
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe, Violine) und Basso continuo; Violoncello/Viola da gamba ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749624
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1534668
Urtextausgabe
for: 2 cellos [bassoons]
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 1479628
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479650
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479649
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1479643
for violin and piano
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1478376
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1355319
revised edition
replaces HN 357
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1351876
Band 2
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1351420
Al chiaro di luna
Op. 27 n. 2
Adagio sostenuto
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1350894
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1350849
The Early Sonatas
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1349794
(1936) - Vol. 4
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1350842
nello stile da chiesa
op. 5
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 1343333
Sonata per Pianoforte
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1346590
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1346367
Klassische Meisterwerke – in neuer Gestalt
for: Bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello
Score, 5 Single part
Item no.: 1340770
Genere, forma, espressione Volume 1
Serie diretta da Guido Salvetti
sotto gli auspici del Beethoven-Haus di Bonn
for: Piano
Book
Item no.: 962414
Le Sonate dall’op. 14 all’op. 31 Vol. 3
Le Sonate per pianoforte di Beethoven
Serie diretta da Guido Salvetti
sotto gli auspici del Beethoven-Haus di Bonn
for: Piano
Book
Item no.: 962388
divise in studii e divertimenti
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 962519
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331548
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331549
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 solo parts, online playback
Item no.: 1331515
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317313
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317312
for: Bassoon, guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1317042
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1316984
Francis Edward Gladstone (1845-1928)
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1316865
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1316867
Alan Gray (1855-1935)
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1316866
© 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
