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: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497270
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Oboe
Item no.: 421777
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Single part Organ
Item no.: 152823
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347002
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683455
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 375042
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Viola
Item no.: 730560
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 793576
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 784646
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624440
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harpsichord [organ] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1535167
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689602
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689600
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 784645
for: Flute, orchestra
Single part
Item no.: 421601
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 121889
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683267
Single part(n)
Item no.: 432562
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606141
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Trumpet solo)
Item no.: 331383
for: OB 3
Single part(n)
Item no.: 278221
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Horn 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665533
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355216
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355203
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355194
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355173
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 1355168
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355167
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355123
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355054
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355052
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355034
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355025
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354949
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1354925
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351860
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355563
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355509
for: Violin, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355467
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355465
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355426
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355374
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355369
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 272910
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Vl. 1
for: Orchester (Oboe, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424362
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766628
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Cello
Item no.: 421782
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424829