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: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369760
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts, CD
Item no.: 669553
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for: Viola, piano
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new critical performing edition at the cutting edge of Beethoven scholarship
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
3 music scores (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 690272
Testimony of the friendship between M. Haydn und W. A. Mozart
for: Violin, viola
Parts (2)
Item no.: 694873
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
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for: Piano
Music score
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for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
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for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
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Music score
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for flute and piano
Based on the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
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with marked and unmarked string parts
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Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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Henle Urtext Editions
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Ensemble score, solo part
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Henle Urtext Editions
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
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Clarinet Library
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
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Score, Parts
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für Klavier
teilweise ergänzt, mit Fingersätzen
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für zwei Altblockflöten (Flöten/Oboen) und Bc (Bc ausgesetzt)
Band 1 (Nr. 1-3)
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Heft 2
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Pour la Flûte Traversière, avec la Basse
Plaisir de la Flûte
Collection Pierre Paubon
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Sheet music
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für Flöte und Klavier
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L'arte del flauto
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3 Performance scores
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(Urtext)
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bearbeitet für Bassposaune und Klavier
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transcribed for two Clarinets
Revue pour la Clarinette
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Denkmaeler Der Tonkunst In Oesterreich 153~Dtoe 153
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Sonate Nr. 3 für Orgel
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1726 edition
L’Art de la Flûte Traversière, 14
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Score, Parts
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