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: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276873
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276866
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1276858
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287661
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287646
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287635
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287632
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287626
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287619
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 578101
for: Soprano saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281624
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282800
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282793
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282792
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282791
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282789
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282786
for: Treble recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290682
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1290986
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1297312
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295469
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295453
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295452
for: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1295450
for: Piano
Study score
Item no.: 256694
for: Recorder [flute, violin, oboe], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 175935
for: Violin [flute], cello, piano [harpsichord]
Score, 3 Single part
Item no.: 763270
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 664470
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 289427
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Item no.: 209695
for: FL VC (FAG)
Item no.: 200463
for: 2 TRP-D 2 VL VA VC KB ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 143229
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 160177
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316468
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316446
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567546
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567539
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1567537
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1666946
Edition Schott
for: 2 flutes, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 754426
op. 2/4
for: Streichorchester und Cembalo
Score
Item no.: 754384
op. 38/1
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 758311
No. 1-2
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 744340
No. 1 F Major and No. 4 G Minor
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 737043
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 736484
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 739604
Allegro, Rondo grazioso
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731709
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 731317