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: ABFL OB VL BC
Set of parts
Item no.: 109146
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 559653
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 497371
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1696533
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 182653
for: Organ, strings
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1701840
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 177097
for: Piano left hand, orchestra
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 612744
Original Music for Recorder
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 420939
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1354963
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657173
for: Alto saxophone, concert band
Score
Item no.: 1687897
for trombone and strings
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1556044
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1555938
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1555792
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394688
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 282598
for: Viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1008887
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), trombone, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996574
for: 2 Violinen, Streicher und Cembalo (Klavier)
Partitur
Item no.: 101651
for String Orchestra and Harpsichord
for: Strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 397732
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 394830
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 394812
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 282745
for: Piano, strings
Score
Item no.: 282574
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 282558
for: 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281627
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 279281
for: horn, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 419842
for: Solo Blockflöte (A), 2 Violinen, Viola, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 236361
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 227630
for: 2 TRP-C 2 VL BC
Score
Item no.: 243675
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 420747
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 376117
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 372885
for: Oboe, wind ensemble (9 instruments), double bass
Score
Item no.: 329953
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 313741
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304883
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391983
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1346570
Score
Item no.: 612446
for: Violinen (2), Streicher (1. Violine, 2. Violine, Viola, Cello, Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Score
Item no.: 563757
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 642225
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 648787
for: 2 harpsichords
Score
Item no.: 648709
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 648593
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 770514
for: 2 violins (soli), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 767821
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