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.: 356023
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113747
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 641970
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684110
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Item no.: 113702
for: für Flöte,Oboe,Klarinette und Fagott
Score
Item no.: 413054
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 675714
for: Piano
Music score
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for: Piano
Item no.: 284518
Instructive Edition
Volume 1: KV 279–330
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Music score
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for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 674832
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1317313
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 774948
for: Treble recorder [flute/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 578101
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 341293
for: 2 TRP-D 2 VL VA VC KB ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 143229
for: 4 Hörner in F
Score, Parts
Item no.: 459440
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 160177
Urtext (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 129990
6. Sonate (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 129636
for: Flöte und obligates Cembalo (Klavier)
Item no.: 393306
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Piano
Item no.: 401117
for: Piano
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for: 2 Violins and BC
Score
Item no.: 263101
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
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for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part
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for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: 2 TRP 2 VL 4 VA BC
Item no.: 247318
for: 2 VL 2 VA (VDG) BASS-VDG ORG
Score
Item no.: 551837
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1681164
for: Clarinet [Flute, oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
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for: 2 flutes (duet)
Item no.: 393432
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte), Viola da gamba (Viola) und Basso continuo
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for: Cello, piano
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Item no.: 1696768
aus "VI Sonates avec une Ouverture & Suite"
Sonate e Sinfonie con tromba sola 5
for: 2 trumpets (D), 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1671508
D’apres des vieux cahiers
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1670115
Edition Immer
Reihe I: Werke aus Kremsier
for: 5 trumpets, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 1351521
Musica con clarino 23b – Originalkompositionen mit Naturtrompete(n)
for: 3 trumpets, timpani, organ [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351737
für zwei Oboen und zwei Fagotte
for: 2 oboes, 2 bassoons
Score, Parts
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for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1346367
for: 1–3 violins, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009372
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 692875
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 1651516
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 655864
Neufassung anhand des überlieferten Incipit in Haydns Entwurf-Katalog
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 668885
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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