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:
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355214
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355420
für 2 Flöten und Kammerorchester
Violoncello/Kontrabass
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355424
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355540
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113953
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355053
ars instrumentalis 016
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632825
ars instrumentalis 016
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632772
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611622
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 172971
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part Mandolin 2
Item no.: 473294
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561019
Single part Mandola
Item no.: 550397
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421728
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Bassoon solo (single part)
Item no.: 421726
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421627
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 123272
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 734168
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497620
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623237
op. 104
Einzelstimme Va.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424519
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Va.
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424364
ars instrumentalis 072
for: Harpsichord
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 261192
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025069
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 237560
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606142
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Oboe 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 331385
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347003
Swiss Composers Series
for: Piano, brass ensemble, latin percussion
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1671640
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 793574
für Oboe, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672710
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355378
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355280
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355278
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355247
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355231
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355210
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355193
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355032
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 657918
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355474
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355429
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355372
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355367
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355252
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355166
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355039
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355016
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