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: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part 3
Item no.: 473295
for: Viola
Single part Viola
Item no.: 644564
for: OB-DAMORE 2
Single part(n)
Item no.: 371710
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683268
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411187
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 746696
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479720
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 644561
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744852
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278215
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Oboe 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665535
for: Harp, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355268
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355267
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355224
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355192
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355158
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355145
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355120
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355036
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355033
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355001
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354984
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354976
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354950
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355544
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355539
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355427
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355382
Swiss Composers Series
for: Piano, brass ensemble, latin percussion
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1671640
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 172971
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113953
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645836
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Single part Flute
Item no.: 499388
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611622
Single part Mandola
Item no.: 550397
op. 104
Einzelstimme Va.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424519
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Va.
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424364
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623237
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 237560
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582960
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347003
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 871558
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497620
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 734168
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 737833
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 756672
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Streicher
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 756655
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 793574
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