Who said that there are no arguments in music? On the contrary, the never-ending “competition” is an inseparable part of music itself, be it between instruments, within the dynamics or through the phrasing. In a solo concerto, a virtuosic soloist duels with the accompanying orchestra, and all being well, in the end, everybody wins! Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all concertos from all eras with Stretta today!
The word “Concerto” is derived from the Latin term “concertare”, which means to dispute, contend or fight, while the same word took on a completely opposite meaning in Italian, to harmonise. The term was initially used for sacred choral compositions with bass accompaniment. First the Italian baroque composers Alessandro Stradella, Giuseppe Torelli and Arcangelo Corelli began to compose in the instrumental form that we now call “Concerto Grosso”. It consists of a small group of solo instruments, a “Concertino”, and a larger accompanying orchestra, the “Ripieno”, with basso continuo.
In the high baroque period, the first solo instrumental concertos began to appear, with a classic three-movement structure, for one, but sometimes for two or more instruments. The master of this form was without a doubt Antonio Vivaldi, from whose pen, to this day, 447 concertos have survived, 226 of them for violin. Vivaldi’s best-known concerto is his violin concerto Four Seasons. Both Bach and Handel are also well known for their concertos.
The solo concerto was also very popular in the classical period. All great composers who were accomplished pianists or instrumentalists wrote solo concertos, often for themselves, but also for other contemporary virtuosos, here are a few great classical solo concertos:
In the romantic period, almost all major composers devoted themselves to solo or double concertos of all kinds. Here are a few romantic favourites:
Hortus Musicus
for: Flöte, 1. Violine (ripieno)
Stimme
Item no.: 430376
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391959
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391956
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391930
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391902
for: 2 Clarinets and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166349
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392540
für Kammerorchester
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Chamber orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392533
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392394
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392354
"Der Winter" f-Moll
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392349
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392341
für Klavier und Orchester
(in variablen Metren)
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 367991
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 366210
(Le Stagioni)
[CD: Orchester-Begleitung zur Solostimme Violine]
MusicPartner – Klassik zum Mitspielen
for: Violin, piano
Play-along CD 1
Item no.: 135543
"The Bulls of Bashan" für Violine und Streichorchester
Musik unserer Zeit
for: Violin, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 137644
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 297549
First Print
Diletto Musicale – Doblinger's Classical Music Series
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304483
P. deest.
Erstdruck
for: Violin, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305057
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 109183
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 109164
für Klarinette und Orchester
ars instrumentalis 028
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 109091
op. 74
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 106879
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108704
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 202638
The Julian Lloyd Webber Performing Editon
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 205144
Musica Rara
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 414255
F.Iii/22 - Tomo 522
for: Cello, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 263230
op. 12/1RV 317 / PV 343
for: Violine, Streichorchester und Cembalo (Klavier)
Partitur
Item no.: 351773
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 330297
Klavierkonzert
nach der Henle-Gesamtausgabe (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 329288
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 333617
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet (a), piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 354968
(Autograph-Ausgabe)
Peters East German Library 1949-1990
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383632
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404360
Kritischer Bericht, Skizzen, Fragmente
Arnold Schoenberg – Complete Works 15
Book (critical commentary, hardcover)
Item no.: 101765
for: Oboen (2), Streicher
Score
Item no.: 208498
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391962
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 393365
MWV Q 23
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 167177
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 352804
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 318768
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 188592
for Piano and Orchestra
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 558893
for: Cello solo, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 121461
für Blockfötengruppen, Kesselpauken und Timpani
for: Recorder Ensemble and Percussion
Book
Item no.: 199760
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 296591
Bärenreiter's Concert Pieces
for: Violine solo, Klavier
Klavierauszug, Stimme
Item no.: 608130
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