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: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355160
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355157
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355068
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355065
for: Oboe, strings
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355062
for: Oboe, strings
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355061
for: Oboe, strings
Single parts Violins 1 and 2
Item no.: 1355060
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355041
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355026
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355008
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354989
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354988
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354975
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354951
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585465
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632808
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 560110
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 560108
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 311223
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 421731
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421727
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421626
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421604
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421602
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294502
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 145613
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Single part Oboe damore 1
Item no.: 766630
for: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497268
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 237561
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582961
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784649
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 756670
Concerto grosso A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 729360
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 727080
for clarinet and piano
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 793578
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 4 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765704
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765700
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 333754
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part Mandola
Item no.: 473296
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355560
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355558
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355541
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355466
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355375
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355368
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355350
Single part Viola
Item no.: 611111
for: Harp, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355269
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