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: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 solo parts, online playback
Item no.: 1019328
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2861
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2445
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3367
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 189394
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 129631
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 297748
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 269429
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1639251
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 212937
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 206905
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1421
for: Clarinet, piano
Book
Item no.: 169832
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6407
for: Viola, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 477625
for: 2 clarinets
Set of parts
Item no.: 394805
Piano Sonata C sharp minor. 1st movement
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 744180
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 479077
for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]
Music score
Item no.: 583653
for: 4 ABFL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 608551
for two Treble Recorders or other Melody Instruments
Hortus Musicus 245
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 122194
for: Flute [oboe], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 130499
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 129967
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696692
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 659385
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 779405
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 282609
for: Cello, Basso continuo
Spielpartitur, Stimmensatz
Item no.: 116074
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 419147
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 564570
Volume 2
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 614778
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Item no.: 200325
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 289517
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123569
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 418035
(Pastoral)
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 477749
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 643505
Based on the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 445130
Incl. Cello Version of the Horn Sonata op. 17
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 476246
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 408341
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 420725
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 117666
with marked and unmarked string parts.
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160396
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401378
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 160098
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 148198
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 113051