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:
für Klarinette, Fagott und Orchester
for: Clarinet, bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655741
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355499
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1355059
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351790
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611554
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499350
for: Trumpet, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1022333
for: Piano, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1023572
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355314
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354962
Hob. VIIh: 3
for: 2 ABFL 2 HRN 2 VL 2 VA VC (KB)
Study score
Item no.: 241173
Urtext-Edition
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229319
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 156915
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 156909
for: 2 FL 2 VL 2 VA VC
Score
Item no.: 608381
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 167912
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 210590
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 210585
Spring
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 646676
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696468
aus "L'Estro armonico"
RV 310, P 96, F.I:173
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 624653
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 177602
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 163637
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184918
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486677
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615902
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355542
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355543
Reconstructed from BWV 169, 49, 1053
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 272659
op. 21 Hob. XVIII: 11
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139379
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 269188
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 463437
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771633
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 766227
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766220
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 765387
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373189
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Additional parts: strings
Item no.: 158572
Rekonstruiert nach BWV 1060
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 278991
Edition Schott
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 247527
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 772640
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 772638
"Coronation Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771740
Bärenreiter Urtext
Instrumentation 1. Flute, 2. Flute (Piccolo flute), Oboe (2), 1. Clarinet (in B), 2. Clarinet (in A), Bassoon (2), Horn (3), Trumpet (2), Trombone (3), Tuba, Triangle, Timpani
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 616011
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377639
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1op. 54
for: Piano, orchestra
Set of parts (Wind instruments)
Item no.: 560107
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1690313
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1677790
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