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: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383115
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 316365
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630396
Streichorchester für Oboe, Fagott
und Klavier
for: KAMMERMUSIK TASTEN-/BALG- + HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE TRIOS
Item no.: 371687
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 772567
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Cello
Music score, 2 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 290236
for: Alto saxophone, orchestra
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 240220
Edition Schott
for: Cello, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 746701
Edition Schott
for: Viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 746758
for: Trumpet, strings
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 227492
for: 2 guitars
Spielbuch
Item no.: 761278
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 262844
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 465054
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 628333
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction, Playback-CD
Item no.: 335829
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 762221
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 226160
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 108827
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 472608
for: Flute
Music score, CD
Item no.: 244122
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 244318
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287203
for: Organ, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 287195
Klavierkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 287121
two copies necessary for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630399
two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 582839
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 345799
for: Piano, string orchestra [string quartet]
Score
Item no.: 151335
for: 2 trumpets, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 165806
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 663104
The Four Seasons
for Violin and Piano
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 313444
for: Flute, string orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 601202
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 562183
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 261439
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 561926
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 197777
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 310691
for: Violin, orchestra
Klavierauszug, Stimme
Item no.: 558193
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 255563
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 289308
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 284660
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 116482
(Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196838
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 560699
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 380352
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 254895
for Bassoon, Strings, Basso Continuo (Piano reduction)
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 485783
for: Treble recorder, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 413483
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