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: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 1651896
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354921
RV 402
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215577
Consortium
for: Strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1646190
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355550
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1192632
for: Cello [double bass], strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 296039
D-Dur
for: 1-2 trumpets, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278136
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668255
for: 2 trumpets, piano
Item no.: 280637
Klaviersolostimme
Carl Loewe Edition Band 7
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1009443
RV 307
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161887
RV 363
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215591
RV 271
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215646
for: Horn, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1140944
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
2 Piano reductions
Item no.: 817484
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668246
RV 331
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161893
aus "L'Estro armonico"
RV 310, P 96, F.I:173
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689206
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 1655030
RV 369
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215607
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653714
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Cembalo
for: Strings, harpsichord
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 345921
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Oboe 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653064
Orchestermusik
for: Violin, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 344427
F VIII,12 / PV 47
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1555955
for: Flute, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 419013
for: Mandolin (soloist), mandolin orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 459035
für Trompete (Violine, Blockflöte), Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236352
für Trompete (Violine, Blockflöte), Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236351
for: Trumpet, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1022326
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459298
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben Urtext
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 774843
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 237559
RV 444
Einzelstimme Fl.
for: Flautino, Orchester (2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo, Basso continuo)
Single part(n)
Item no.: 424516
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 332685
The Brass Press
for: Trumpet, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023761
mit allen von Mozart selbst stammenden Kadenzen
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392334
RV 109, 126, 127, 136, 153, 166
for: Violin, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215645
for: Flute, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 380204
for: Cello, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 379836
The Music of Johan de Meij
for: Trombone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1208906
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355515
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351788
für Klarinette und Orchester
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 612987
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 493102
für Klarinette, Fagott und Orchester
for: Clarinet, bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655742
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1355353
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