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 Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Trumpet solo)
Item no.: 331383
for: OB 3
Single part(n)
Item no.: 278221
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Oboe
Item no.: 421777
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Single part
Item no.: 421601
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 727103
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 783775
op. 10/1
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 783765
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 696595
L'Autunno/ Autumn/ Der Herbst/ L'Automne
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 580260
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 784714
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355153
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 473694
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 750749
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340851
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Vl. 1
for: Orchester (Oboe, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424362
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766628
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 643433
"La Notte"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 747279
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355379
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355276
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355212
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362708
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355251
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355243
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355195
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355170
G-Dur
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351864
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351863
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645634
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 611114
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Cello
Item no.: 421782
MWV Q 23
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497885
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347001
für Streicher und Basso continuo
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 680405
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692069
nach den Kantaten 169 und 49
Ars Instrumentalis 20
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622707
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1op. 54
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 560111
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025070
ars instrumentalis 003
for: Harpsichord
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 210150
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228549
aus 12 Concerti op. 3 "L'Estro Armonico"
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765729
ars instrumentalis 040
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585468
für Klavier und Orchester
Violine 1
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377948
ars instrumentalis 005
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373267
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372647
für Klarinette und Orchester
Horn 1
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Horn 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665532
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 768264
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278216
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