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: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346038
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 687377
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 687328
for: Flute, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377941
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 333404
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770587
for: Baroque orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180430
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180429
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 156919
for: 2 Violins, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 263126
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 215325
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 281753
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1161413
for: 2. Violine
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 882936
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Oboe 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 879630
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 631075
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 434060
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345813
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 329341
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 296346
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 261682
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 210587
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188214
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 188151
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486142
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771629
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330994
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462136
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462133
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 629778
(Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444563
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645162
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692606
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 498882
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 365908
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 266318
for: Cello [double bass], strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 273545
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 237660
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236377
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236350
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234724
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236427
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1711894
for: Organ, orchestra
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 155014
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 247525
for Violin and Orchestra
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 134420
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327692
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668239
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwide
stay on Stretta Music Finland
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
