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:
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294111
for: 2 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188134
for: Baroque orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180426
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 155087
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Flute solo 1)
Item no.: 770661
for: Horn, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 778516
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 964099
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 262683
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 369694
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774327
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355198
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 193580
for: 3. Violine
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 883681
(Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444565
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 434057
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 663289
in E-flat Major
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 634964
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263205
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263256
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263199
for: Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 263063
for: Flute, Strings and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 263166
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 389427
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263177
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263158
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263155
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421491
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Cello (Double bass/ Violone) [Basso continuo] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459287
Reconstructed after BWV 1055
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe d'amore [oboe], string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347089
Reconstructed after BWV 1055
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe d'amore [oboe], string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347087
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello, violone [double bass] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313420
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188148
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 444356
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696412
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 615197
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 685917
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 764843
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486204
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444675
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 168846
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 602366
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 602364
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1355425
für Viola, Streicher und Basso continuo
Stimmensatz
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 682534
Diletto Musicale
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1667031
Diletto Musicale
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1667033
RV 365
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215575
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653272
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