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:
with Beethoven's original cadenzas
– Two copies needed for performance –
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401415
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 149184
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 287212
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 774985
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298882
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 101466
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 266906
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 549791
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162080
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 186169
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392538
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 276256
Twelve Concertos for Violin, Strings and Basso continuo
op. 4
Volume I/ I-VI
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 629792
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 675668
after the Violin Concerto
Bärenreiter Urtext
– Complete performance material and Critical Commentary see BA 9019 –
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 558183
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 244567
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 215207
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 187844
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 261198
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492973
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254236
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486517
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 255247
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 216546
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 156173
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 229046
PV 106 / F:I,208
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 577288
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 931641
Urtext edition based on HN 7248 (G. Henle Verlag, Munich)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 776818
"Der Winter" aus den "Vier Jahreszeiten"
bearbeitet für Sopransaxophon und Saxophonquartett
for: Soprano saxophone (solo), 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 674999
for: Trumpet (D), strings, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1351482
Concerto 3-4, Vol. II
Stimmensatz in Faksimile, arranged from Harpsichord Sonatas
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 563756
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 680131
arranged for Harp Quintet
for: Flute, violin, viola, cello, harp
Set of parts
Item no.: 605438
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 404314
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 443652
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 189649
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 133481
for: Violinen (2), Streicher (1. Violine, 2. Violine, Viola, Cello, Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Score
Item no.: 563753
for: 2 Oboen, 2 Violinen, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 463848
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 361859
for: Flute, harp
Ensemble score
Item no.: 476351
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 109164
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 164294
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 294107
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116480
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696046
Reconstruction based on BWV 1056 and 156
Edition for Oboe and Piano
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 285058
© 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
![W.A. Mozart: Konzert [Nr. 2] D-Dur KV 314 (28, FlOrch (KASt)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/73/29/492973.jpg)
