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: Harp, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355269
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355220
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355209
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355180
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355163
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355162
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355048
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355042
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606143
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Trumpet solo)
Item no.: 683264
Single part Bassoon
Item no.: 372644
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499040
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 372653
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355246
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355215
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 178564
for: Oboe d'amore
Single part
Item no.: 421611
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Oboe 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665534
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645833
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645834
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645835
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Single part Oboe damore 2
Item no.: 766631
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Horn 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1114104
Single part Mandola
Item no.: 550404
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 550395
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Vc. (Kb.)
for: Orchester (Oboe, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 424365
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part Horn 3
Item no.: 237562
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549332
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549330
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1704104
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 624479
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 784650
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Oboe 1
Item no.: 784643
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part viola 2
Item no.: 779633
for: Baroque orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 623912
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 398060
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765709
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765693
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 122073
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 633080
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355300
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355279
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355249
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355240
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355211
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355197
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355159
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355056
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