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:
Der Frühling aus Die vier Jahreszeiten
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 655978
for Tuba and Orchestra (Pocket Score)
for: Tuba, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1556106
for: Tuba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 966669
Concerto pour tuba et orchestre à vent
for: Tuba, concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1025205
for: Guitar, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 265557
für Orgel und Streicher
nach dem Konzert a-Moll op.3 Nr. 8 von Vivaldi, bearbeitet von Marcel Dupré
Erstdruck
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 675040
in D minor
for: Piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 666489
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
Study Score 821
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1136629
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 657701
I.-III. Lage
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1654998
Orgeltranskription
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1646255
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1556104
für Cembalo (Orgel) und Streicher
Musik für Orgel und Orchester Band 25
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 665562
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 289559
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 289558
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 289301
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 293280
COLLECTION BRANIMIR SLOKAR
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595105
for: Accordion solo, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 218331
für Klarinette und Orchester
ars instrumentalis 028
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 463591
Horn solo und Kammerorchester (mit 2 Bassetthörnern und 4 obligaten Naturhörnern)
for: Horn solo und Kammerorchester
Study score
Item no.: 166055
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 166141
(complete)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 166101
Stimmensatz 3-3-2-3
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 189011
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 577433
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 173639
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 444466
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 207667
for violoncello and orchestra
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1543905
for violoncello and orchestra
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 666515
Reconstruction from Harpsichord version
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1559373
for: Violin, chamber orchestra
Single edition
Item no.: 1544284
Flauto Traverso Concertato
Erstausgabe
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1555651
Dump it down Serie
vereinfachte Klavierbegleitung
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 1632378
Erstausgabe
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 635994
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 648704
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 494651
Konzert Nr. 1 (F-Dur) und Nr. 2 (G-Dur) für Orgel oder Cembalo
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 211274
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 211946
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 228921
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 559851
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 297207
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 274734
for: Horn, piano
Item no.: 490974
for: Flute, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 213187
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 244830
for: Violine, Streicher
Score
Item no.: 243954
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 151165
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