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: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354924
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 277346
Originalversion 1830
Repertoire explorer
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano
Single part Piano
Item no.: 656546
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372985
for: Mandolin orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 645612
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355221
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 373072
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 649772
for: Descant recorder, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424962
G-Dur
for: Violin, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351862
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765749
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355391
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355361
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355031
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355570
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355473
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421780
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355471
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355385
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355373
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355357
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355298
for: Oboe, strings
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355063
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1704103
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Recorder 1
Item no.: 346999
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355171
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355155
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355154
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355179
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 498883
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 332572
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692067
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497619
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 733667
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 733517
op. 4/5
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 748124
"La Notte"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 747281
op. 10/5
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 734517
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 727081
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 793575
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 750748
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 421725
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 428673
Oboe (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345788
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479721
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 733198
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 298792
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411186
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