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.
Bd.2: Sonaten 4-6
for: Flute, basso continuo [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 203265
for: Viola, piano
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 929410
for: 2 violins, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297236
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 211197
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 446701
for: 2 VL 3 VA BC
Score
Item no.: 340366
for: 5 Blockflöten (SSATB) 5 Streicher, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 607404
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263304
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1566418
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263116
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263112
for: 5 recorders (SATTB)
Single part tenor recorder 1
Item no.: 634578
for: Flute, piano
Score
Item no.: 341417
for: 2 trombones
Item no.: 556542
for: 2 FL FAG
Item no.: 263426
Musicalady 12~Komponistinnen Des 18. Und 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Item no.: 340068
Maders Kleine Musikbibliothek
for: Flute, violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581668
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 586878
for: Flöte Violine, Oboe Fagott, Basso continuo
Faksimile (Stimme)
Item no.: 478765
Book
Item no.: 109191
Proprius
for: Flute, cello, harpsichord
Item no.: 492476
for: Flute [violin], harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 419788
for: TRP (OB) ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200665
Epistle Sonata for the Coronation Mass
Urtext Stuttgarter Mozart-Ausgaben
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372614
for: Cello, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 297294
Maders Kleine Muikbibliothek
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551050
for: Cello, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419651
Band II: 6 Sonaten ABV 18–23
Erstausgabe
for: Cello, basso continuo
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1651192
for: 3 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 333465
for guitar
(original for Piano)
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 672584
for: Bass clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1021277
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672453
for: String orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645003
KV 358
for: Bläsernonett und Kontrabass ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 429313
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269405
Early Cello Series
for: VC (VL) BC
Item no.: 314787
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 273618
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 176024
for: 2 Violinen, Violoncello Basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 228340
Barocksonaten in Bearbeitung
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat), basso continuo
Single part (Alto saxophone solo)
Item no.: 666437
Barockmusik für Sopransaxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, basso continuo
Single part Soprano saxophone, Playback-CD
Item no.: 660409
Musica Italiana
for: 2 violins, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 409461
for: String orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458397
Performers' Facsimiles 169
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 347760
for: Guitar
Single part(n)
Item no.: 393772
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 107935
for: Violin [flute], cello, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 171750
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1018357