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:
RV 365
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215575
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653272
für Oboe und Orchester
Solostimme für Oboe
for: Oboe, orchestra
Single part Oboe
Item no.: 677588
RV 763
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215586
RV 353
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215644
pour cor en fa et piano
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1654743
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Conductor score
Item no.: 1645838
RV 445
for: Descant recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161867
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 796937
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 781439
op. 104
Einzelstimme Fl. (Ob.)
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Set of parts
Item no.: 424522
Bernaerts Music~Classics
for: Concert band
Item no.: 363463
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 215673
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 237659
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234725
Book
Item no.: 161401
for: Organ, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1549328
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 775889
for: TRP (B/C/CORNO DA CACCIA) ORG
Item no.: 431352
op. 2 Nr. 1
Einzelstimme Vc. (Kb.)
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236374
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145384
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1021921
für Orgel und Streichorchester
Single part
Item no.: 305590
for: Classical
Buch
Item no.: 250958
Buch
Item no.: 250823
for: 2 Horns and Piano
Buch
Item no.: 334321
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 332684
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 296464
RV 333
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215583
Oboe, Streicher, Bc, Ausgabe für Oboe u Klavier
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 298184
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392393
Romantische Musik für Klarinette
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1009527
Les mouvements d'humeurs varient et passent...
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 374917
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 361057
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Organ
Item no.: 649773
for: 2 Piccolo trumpets, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023515
for: Violin, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1023865
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 582966
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344524
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344573
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344203
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355542
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355543
op. 21 Hob. XVIII: 11
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139379
Bärenreiter Urtext
Instrumentation 1. Flute, 2. Flute (Piccolo flute), Oboe (2), 1. Clarinet (in B), 2. Clarinet (in A), Bassoon (2), Horn (3), Trumpet (2), Trombone (3), Tuba, Triangle, Timpani
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 616011
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 766227
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766220
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 765387
© 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.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
Worldwide
