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 und Orchester
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310204
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 295239
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327163
Breitkopf & Härtel Orchester-Bibliothek
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 326985
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 3
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225042
Antiqua
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225283
Hob. VIIh: 2
for: 2 ABFL 2 HRN 2VL 2 VA VC (KB)
Study score
Item no.: 241172
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191801
op. 61
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 353100
mit allen vom Komponisten selbst stammenden Kadenzen
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392401
Per Strumenti Diversi, Archi e BC. - F.Xii/37 - Tomo 318
for: Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 389516
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 469228
für Oboe, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 463176
for: Mandolin (soloist), mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 493462
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 430551
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444365
für Horn und Orchester
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 464069
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 112367
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 148392
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 159195
Hornkonzert (Urtextausgabe)
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 158500
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 159808
"Lützow Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 365094
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violoncello
for: Strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345640
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 1
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345637
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 344646
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345814
Accort B 8
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367890
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 364207
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335954
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335802
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347745
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 375971
for: Harp (solo), 2 violins, viola, cello, flute, clarinet
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372525
for: Flute, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377939
Klarinettenkonzert
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371872
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487073
for: Trumpet (solo), wind ensemble, percussion
Set of parts
Item no.: 1026773
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765385
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part viola da gamba (solo) (tenor clef)
Item no.: 234721
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Va.
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236378
for: 3 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 636598
for: 3 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 636595
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 766134
Summer
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 621402
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383147
Piano reduction
Item no.: 384070
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