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 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499393
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355002
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351791
G-Dur
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351861
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354974
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355124
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355266
for: Violin, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355472
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 746697
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355040
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355156
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355165
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355505
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355508
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355533
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 3, 4 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355534
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355169
für Oboe, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 643236
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766626
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355559
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355222
for: Violin, string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 773068
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 624409
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1op. 54
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 560109
for: Oboe
Single part(n)
Item no.: 278219
Adelaide
erstmalig herausgegeben, orchestriert und für Violine und Klavier bearbeitet von Marius Casadesus
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294503
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 447161
Single part Mandolin 2
Item no.: 550403
Single part Mandolin 2
Item no.: 550396
Single part mandolin (solo)
Item no.: 550394
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355470
for: Harp, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355254
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355390
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 205595
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025068
ars instrumentalis 011
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665793
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vc.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424520
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord [piano] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 476193
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355355
for: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497271
"La Notte"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 747280
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 727007
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 303755
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191433
Erstdruck
Edition Vieweg (Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 125281
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Score, Piano score
Item no.: 358092
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes], 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 772439
Auch mit Violine 3 erhältlich
Edition Vieweg (Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: 2 treble recorders, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 125262
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