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:
Arrangement
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts (Strings)
Item no.: 1355784
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611787
for: Euphonium, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1043062
Swiss Composers Series
for: Cello solo, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1024593
for: Trumpet, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023590
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben Urtext
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 774847
for: Flute, concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023533
für 2 Trompeten (corni da caccia) und Kammerorchester
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 122160
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354992
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Bassoon solo (single part)
Item no.: 366082
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335800
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335799
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 160920
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 216690
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 773344
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 773342
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692604
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 633313
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part (Viola solo)
Item no.: 234722
for: Violin, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 635949
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 353868
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1657371
Single part(n)
Item no.: 246057
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1672510
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1669284
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 358865
for: Flute, orchestra
Additional parts: strings
Item no.: 155691
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 341488
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 431830
for: Organ, strings
Study score
Item no.: 310012
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 309936
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770590
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263191
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 316105
for: 2 melodic instruments (C/B-flat/E-flat), concert band
Score
Item no.: 1031272
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 680795
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 382564
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 455577
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 216874
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 168140
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 817262
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 357738
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 304854
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 304764
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1166063
Autumn
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693023
Summer
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 621404
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1009441
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