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:
Reconstructed after BWV 1055
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe d'amore [oboe], string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347088
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444368
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444366
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 621047
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1 solo
Item no.: 369100
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 347747
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462132
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 583743
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 583742
for: 1. Oboe, 2. Oboe
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 488100
Urtext based on newly found source
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute [oboe], orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487578
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Oboe 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 192489
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 179070
(Urtext)
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Oboe 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 329331
(Urtext)
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 329326
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696475
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696473
Autumn
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693032
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 401285
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139478
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194583
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 237559
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben Urtext
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 774843
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236352
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236351
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 727076
Oboe (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371387
Concerto grosso in A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 734044
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 756652
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part violin 2 solo
Item no.: 411181
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499390
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113725
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: Mandolin orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 645612
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765749
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
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 733198
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355570
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355506
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355473
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