Sonata Op 5 No 8

An arrangement of Corelli's sonata for violin and continuo (op. 5 no. 8), transposed to A minor and arranged for viola. Viola part is unedited aside from being transposed; it retains the slurs from the first edition (ca. 1700) and includes no bow direction markings and no fingerings. Continuo part has been arranged for piano; LH part matches the original continuo part but with figured bass markings omitted, and RH part is kept simple to facilitate playing by intermediate level pianists. The viola part includes passages that require shifting at least as high as third position, some of which are notated in treble clef.

An arrangement of Corelli's sonata for violin and continuo (op. 5 no. 8). Violin part is unedited; it retains the slurs from the first edition (ca. 1700) and includes no bow direction markings and no fingerings. Continuo part has been arranged for piano; LH part matches the original continuo part but with figured bass markings omitted, and RH part is kept simple to facilitate playing by intermediate level pianists. The violin part includes passages that require shifting at least as high as third position.

As the world this year notes the 250th anniversary of the great composer's death, this new edition of a widely acclaimed study alternates biographical chapters with commentary on Bach's works to demonstrate how the circumstances of his life helped shape his music.

What is a sonata? Literally translated, it simply means 'instrumental piece'. It is the epitome of instrumental music, and is certainly the oldest and most enduring form of 'pure' and independent instrumental composition, beginning around 1600 and lasting to the present day. Schmidt-Beste analyses key aspects of the genre including form, scoring and its social context - who composed, played and listened to sonatas? In giving a comprehensive overview of all forms of music which were called 'sonatas' at some point in musical history, this book is more about change than about consistency - an ensemble sonata by Gabrieli appears to share little with a Beethoven sonata, or a trio sonata by Corelli with one of Boulez's piano sonatas, apart from the generic designation. However, common features do emerge, and the look across the centuries - never before addressed in a single-volume survey - opens up new and significant perspectives.