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
Item no.: 401118
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
CD
Item no.: 385767
originally in C
Musica Rara
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 132559
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 181382
for: FL OB BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 332254
Edited from the sources and provided with commentary and fingering
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 261159
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 468483
for: Flute, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 141904
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366845
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 490998
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 395204
for: Flute, piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 638505
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 287814
for: 2 violins
Parts (2)
Item no.: 197845
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401308
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401166
(Spring)
marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401128
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 284814
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 561748
for: Violin, cello
Parts (2)
Item no.: 283675
for: Piano 4 hands [2 pianos]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 279892
for: Violin, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 672421
for Alto Recorder & Keyboard
Volume I: Sonatas 1-2
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462625
for: Treble recorder [flute], basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 200262
Edition Peters Green Series
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 359445
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 256384
Denkmaeler Der Musik In Salzburg Bd 14
for: Violin, basso continuo
Item no.: 561971
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 444015
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 288122
Sonatas Nos. 1–50
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
4 music scores (Urtext)
Item no.: 673609
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 109240
Three Sonatas attributed to J. S. Bach
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401306
for: Flute [treble recorder], basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116299
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696695
Edition Immer
Reihe I: Werke aus Kremsier
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1351469
Band III: Sonate VII: B-dur, VIII: Es-dur, IX: B-dur
for: Oboe [recorder/ violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 303121
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 199048
for: 2 Violas and Basso Continuo
Book
Item no.: 601827
for: Viola da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 605028
für Tasteninstrument
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Item no.: 274699
for: Basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 394543
Für Altblockflöte solo. Baß und GitarrenBegleitung von Erwin Schaller
Das Gitarrenwerk (Verlagskopie) (Editor's copy)
for: Guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311676
Estratte da "Concerti ecclesiastici a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 8 voci"
for: 2–4 melodic instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 484919
Heft I: Sonata Prima - Sonata Seconda
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413626
Periodenbau und Taktordnung in Menuett, Sonate und Sinfonie
Studien und Materialien zur Musikwissenschaft 89
2 Books (Hardcover)
Item no.: 661085
for: 3 clarinets (trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 643140
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304589
L'arte del flauto
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418003
© 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
Worldwide
