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: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723147
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723139
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723148
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723138
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723141
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723142
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723143
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759626
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723145
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723146
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 738510
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759628
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759627
aus: Ricercari per Violoncello solo (1689)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6421
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 725080
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 738181
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 746511
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 758488
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725014
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725013
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 746491
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725011
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 739551
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725012
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 759633
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 759632
op. 18/5
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 732343
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 743922
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 723128
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725017
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 744053
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 731725
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725016
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725015
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 758462
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 722626
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759263
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 732162
aus der Kantate "Himmelskönig, sei willkommen", BWV 182
bearbeitet für zwei Blockflöten und Orgel (Klavier)
for: 2 recorders (SA), organ [piano]
Score, part (pdf download)
Item no.: 2208
QV 3:3.2
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Sheet music
Item no.: 2752
aus: Six Sonates Pour deux Flutes-traversieres sans Basse, op. 1
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2855
aus "Operum Musicorum Posthumorum, Pars Prima"
Nürnberg, 1643
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4859
op. 22
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1127
HWV 360
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1511
aus: "Six Sonatas of two Parts made on purpose for two German Flutes"
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4864
(1762)
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4434
BWV 1033
für Flöte und Basso continuo
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2004
TWV 40:120
für zwei Flöten oder Violinen
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2142
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