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: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1671826
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score
Item no.: 1628878
für Klavier und Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 471956
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1031475
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 313275
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 774303
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774464
Score
Item no.: 190419
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 138574
for: Piccolo trumpet, wind ensemble
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1166048
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1166039
for: Trumpet, strings
Score
Item no.: 214783
(Oversize)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 585223
for: Oboe, strings
Score
Item no.: 584781
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 624405
for percussion and orchestra
for: Percussion, orchestra
Single part Percussion
Item no.: 793013
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Solostimme Fagott
Item no.: 734354
"Jeunehomme"
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 738063
for: Viola, string orchestra
Einzelstimme Violine I rip.
Item no.: 783691
for: Violin, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1023770
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023768
for: Trumpet, horn, trombone, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1031073
for: Trumpet, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023860
for: Marimba, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1023751
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1022306
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023290
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263174
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355227
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355205
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 412312
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263011
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263193
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412580
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263190
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 182227
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 297228
for: 1-2 trumpets, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278135
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649770
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649767
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 585438
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584198
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584195
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 430331
for: Piano, concert band
Score
Item no.: 1001138
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009319
for: Violin, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355072
for: Flute
Single part(n)
Item no.: 274656
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