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:
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 246581
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 241308
Urtext-Edition
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229322
TWV 43: d 3
for: 2 violins [flute, violin], cello, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 213479
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462134
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462131
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 620274
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1645831
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 583747
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 634645
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774464
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 774460
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Theorbo
Item no.: 421779
for: für Klavier und Orchester
Partitur
Item no.: 328147
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313415
für Orgel pos. u. Streichorchester
for: Organ, strings
Study score
Item no.: 310236
for: 3 Violinen, Streichorchester und Cembalo
Score
Item no.: 106842
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 210586
op. 12/1RV 317 / PV 343
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 206038
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1678337
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1670479
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1690189
for: Oboe, strings
Score
Item no.: 485274
for: Flute, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 228078
Ausgabe Grosch
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 579151
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1354986
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355553
Urtext based on the new Beethoven Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1670428
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 1646189
Concerto grosso in A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Einzelstimme ripieno
Item no.: 729354
Konzert für Klarinette und Orchester
für Gabor Varga und das Philharmonische Orchester Györ
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1651015
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 752170
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1024367
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 781440
for flute and orchestra
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 745353
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668632
RV 210
opera ottava n. XI op. 8/11
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215580
Die vier Jahreszeiten
L'Inverno – der Winter
for: 2 accordions (duet)
2 single parts
Item no.: 609205
Op.Iv N.10 - F.I-189 - Tomo 427
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263140
Score
Item no.: 188399
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Bassi rip.
Item no.: 784602
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 776630
Octavo Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 646627
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 649297
Faksimile
for: 2 recorders, basso continuo
3 single parts
Item no.: 1659006
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 776629
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 104187
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 350425
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