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:
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
Autumn
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 693035
Spring
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 693027
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 360572
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330995
ars instrumentalis 051
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 558551
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 168282
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1690313
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327693
Antiqua
Eine Sammlung alter Musik
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 261862
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1017302
nach dem Brandenburgischen Konzert Nr. 4
Corona - Werkreihe für Kammerorchester
for: 2 treble recorders, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 409342
Studienpart
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 117651
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet (a), orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116511
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 167553
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 634623
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327816
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327812
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 301020
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 378156
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377642
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377637
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 332687
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 210583
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder (single part)
Item no.: 184493
Konzert für Orgel (Cembalo) und Orchester
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Viola
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 881431
HWV 317
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 873631
for: Piccolo, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1690798
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 331382
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 299892
(Urtext)
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 430534
(Urtext)
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 430532
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 241310
for percussion and orchestra
for: Percussion, orchestra
Single part Percussion
Item no.: 793013
"Jeunehomme"
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 738063
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1031475
RV 217
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215600
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Solostimme Trompete I
Item no.: 734352
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Solostimme Fagott
Item no.: 734354
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 1031699
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