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:
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
zum Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 3 in c-Moll op. 37
Cadenza 4
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 462755
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 159195
Hornkonzert (Urtextausgabe)
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 158500
Musica Mundi 7
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 159843
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 159808
"Lützow Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 365094
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violoncello
for: Strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345640
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 1
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345637
for: Piano and Strings
Buch
Item no.: 347192
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 344646
Orchester (Fassung in Es-Dur)
Partitur
for: ORCHESTERWERKE GROßES ORCHESTER SOLO-TROMPETE
Score
Item no.: 344326
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 346031
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345814
Accort B 8
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367890
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 364207
für Violine und Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 363400
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335954
Arranged for Guitar Duo
orig. for 2 violins and orchestra
for: 2 classical guitars
Ensemble score, online audio
Item no.: 584979
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335802
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347745
Erstausgabe
Veröffentlichung des Franz Danzi Archivs 3
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 347417
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 340716
from "The Four Seasons"
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 343331
Eulenburg Audio + Score
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 566235
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 375971
for: Harp (solo), 2 violins, viola, cello, flute, clarinet
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372525
for: Flute, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377939
Klarinettenkonzert
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371872
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (concertino), strings, harpsichord
Study score
Item no.: 391580
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 160175
exempla nova 196
for: Oboe, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 160118
für Flöte und Harfe
for: Flute, harp
Item no.: 129981
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487073
für Klarinette
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 338239
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340852
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108888
für Klavier und Orchester
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392538
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 463851
for: Trumpet (C/B-flat), organ
Item no.: 204407
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 275417
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
Ausgabe für Oboe d'amore und Klavier
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394946
Rekonstruierte Fassung für Bassettklarinette und Orchester (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Basset clarinet (A), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 335789
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391921
Musica Rara
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 366892
(F. X. No. 1, P.V. 320)
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 255247
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 243556
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 121543
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