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: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 639008
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 257451
for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
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for: Violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
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for: Violin [flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 105686
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano reduction
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for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 176446
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 661780
for: Violin, piano
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Sammelband, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 116516
for: Viola da gamba [viola], harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 116781
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674549
for: Viola, piano
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for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
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mit hinzugefügter Klavierbegleitung (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 383717
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Playback-CD (without sheet music)
Item no.: 143422
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 131007
for: Violin, guitar
Item no.: 186350
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 170432
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1316866
with marked and unmarked string part
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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for: Violin
Solostimme
Item no.: 661289
for: Flute, piano
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for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383474
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 585816
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE QUERFLÖTE QUERFLÖTE SOLO
Item no.: 431567
"Arpeggione"
Arrangement
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 140235
for: Violin, cello
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 177200
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 155359
Volume II
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401357
Version for Viola
with marked and unmarked string parts
Free Download of Arpeggione part
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 174171
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 301256
for: Flöte (Violine), Violine und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 101674
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 playing scores
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 409427
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
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for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for 2 violoncelli
for: 2 cellos
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 404189
for: 2 violins
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 551319
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 491382
for: Sopran-Blockflöte und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420775
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLINE VIOLINE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 176690
no. 19 and no. 20 g minor and G major op. 49 no. 1 and no. 2
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683710
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 848887
for: Saxophone
Music score
Item no.: 240311
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 862546