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:
Single part Mandolin 2
Item no.: 550396
Single part mandolin (solo)
Item no.: 550394
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025068
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vc.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424520
"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
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
Concerto a quattro in forma di Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale
Musical Treasures of the Past
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 125273
Edition Vieweg (Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 125280
Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten
for: Violin, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Score
Item no.: 146211
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 392591
Die berühmte Pastorale von Bach instrumentiert für Streichorchester
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 656101
Edition Vieweg
(Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 125267
for: 2 FL ZUPFORCHESTER
Score
Item no.: 347601
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Harpsichord [organ] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371425
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371968
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226734
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 358095
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371969
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1672008
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 358097
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 358096
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 1681447
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part violin 2 solo
Item no.: 226899
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1655283
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 358094
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1 solo
Item no.: 226898
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 226901
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1667792
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 475962
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Einzelstimme Violine II solo/rip.
Item no.: 724949
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653600
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 605601
Uno studio analitico del Concerto per Violino Op. 64
for: Violin
Book
Item no.: 1556025
Transkription
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 622585
am Beispiel von Mozarts Fagottkonzert KV 191
for: Bassoon
Study book
Item no.: 660914
Trascrizione
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 630308
da Vivaldi a Britten
for: Cello, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 775521
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