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:
TWV 54:D1
ars instrumentalis 069
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 465776
Concert Suite for violin and orchestra Op. 28 (Full Score)
Violin & Orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Item no.: 487051
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 350425
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 434060
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 104187
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 156919
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 456170
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 155014
Hornkonzert (Urtextausgabe)
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 158501
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 432993
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148758
"The" piano concerto in Urtext – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561468
for: Flute, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 564309
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 494675
for: Cello [double bass], strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 273545
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 303259
für Violoncello und Orchester ".... wo die Trompete das Thema beginnt! "
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310412
(Violinkonzert Nr. 2)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310041
for: Flute, strings
Score
Item no.: 419004
Per Orchestra - Partitura
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 258894
for: Oboe, strings
Score
Item no.: 132437
for Violin and Orchestra
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 134420
for: Guitar and Piano
Score
Item no.: 253133
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366904
op. 101 Hob VIIb Nr. 2
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336080
Edition Schott
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 247525
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1678337
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1550060
for: Harpsichord, flute, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 341084
and Concerto No. 5 »Early Version« D major BWV 1050a
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459282
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346038
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345813
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 333404
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1670479
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1690189
für Oboe, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 338648
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180430
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 687328
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611621
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606140
op. 101
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 746702
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287513
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355552
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355545
HWV 306
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236427
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236377
für Trompete (Violine, Blockflöte), Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236350
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234724
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