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
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196826
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 100813
for: ORCHESTERWERKE STREICHORCHESTER SOLO-OBOE
Score
Item no.: 296337
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Piano score, solo part, 2 CDs
Item no.: 444143
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 289082
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318076
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272406
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 283130
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 223381
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 378113
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 658620
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 109132
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392004
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 144037
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 175700
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369620
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254844
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano
Set of parts
Item no.: 657969
Concertos for Flute and Orchestra G major KV 313 and D-major KV 314 by W. A. Mozart
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 743363
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 743827
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 217422
for: 2 flutes, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 482552
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 373790
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749498
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 483294
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179576
for: 2 oboes, strings
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 302189
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 322178
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 323104
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 416690
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 213738
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 271593
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122105
for: VC 2 OB-DAMORE STR BC
Score
Item no.: 369843
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 629825
for: Harpsichord, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 149204
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
in C and D (with parts in solo- and orchestral tuning)
Download of part in Viennese tuning (A-d-f#-a)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 681912
for: KLAR-A KLAV
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 286042
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 141421
for: Tenor trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 304676
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1592086
for: 2 violins, cello, harpsichord [harp]
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 549585
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 603977
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 688018
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674407
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 636347
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108947
for: Bassethorn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695992
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