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: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 357989
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486517
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 638194
"Der Winter" aus den "Vier Jahreszeiten"
bearbeitet für Sopransaxophon und Saxophonquartett
for: Soprano saxophone (solo), 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 674999
Concerto 3-4, Vol. II
Stimmensatz in Faksimile, arranged from Harpsichord Sonatas
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 563756
arranged for Harp Quintet
for: Flute, violin, viola, cello, harp
Set of parts
Item no.: 605438
for: Violinen (2), Streicher (1. Violine, 2. Violine, Viola, Cello, Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Score
Item no.: 563753
for: String quartet [string orchestra]; basso continuo ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 740673
for: Trumpet (D), strings, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1351482
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 443652
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 133481
for: Violinen (2), Streicher (1. Violine, 2. Violine, Viola, Cello, Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Score
Item no.: 485180
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 189649
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753227
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 395378
for: Flute, string orchestra; harpsichord ad lib.
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 101475
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 581333
for: Flute, harp
Ensemble score
Item no.: 476351
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 164294
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116555
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116480
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 680131
for: Clarinet, viola, orchestra
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 562672
(Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 601352
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 431126
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 294107
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 287092
for: Mandolin [guitar], strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 178567
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 361859
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492970
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 330296
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 613401
Two copies needed for performance
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 285616
for: 2 pianos
2 Piano reductions
Item no.: 359932
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 404314
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165281
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394687
Reconstruction based on BWV 1056 and 156
Edition for Oboe and Piano
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 285058
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 150527
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401395
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 109164
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630315
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696046
Arranged from the Adagio from Clarinet Concerto KV 622
for: Clarinet, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 761376
for: Piccolo [treble recorder], piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 480229
for: 2 Oboen, 2 Violinen, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 463848
Revised version (1903-1904, rev. 1905)
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 106728
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 367061
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