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: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031728
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1031095
for: Guitar
Item no.: 183179
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 165582
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419206
Volume I
1768–1785
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401292
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113403
for Flute (Violin), Harpsichord and Violoncello ad libitum
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Flute [violin], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 177234
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 355435
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 445836
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409253
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401061
for: 2 Fagotte (Violoncelli)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 779936
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759627
Edition Peters Green Series
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383378
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 160931
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 581610
for: für Flöte und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 190686
for: Piano [harpsichord] four hand
Ensemble score
Item no.: 289053
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 247905
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 200498
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 419242
TWV 41:C2,F2,f1,B3
from "Der Getreue Musikmeister"
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 200575
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 269263
for: Violin [flute], cello, piano [harpsichord]
Score, 3 Single part
Item no.: 763271
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1021601
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462149
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401377
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 358212
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 1715356
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1702644
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 133540
for: 2 Sopran-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354316
for: Guitar
Item no.: 290662
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 603216
Zwei Sonaten für Orgel und Orchester (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116475
for: Piano
Item no.: 184623
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200349
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 625799
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 205397
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 404193
new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690278
from the baroque and classical periods
arranged for 2 clarinets
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score (anthology)
Item no.: 621666
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 332796
for: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 404299
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 164235
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 279338
Performers' Facsimiles 138 (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 490666
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