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: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 658620
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 685277
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 682409
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586175
for horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 121182
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113401
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 132038
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392004
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391994
for: Oboe d'amore, Klavier
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 389521
for: Oboe (Violine), Streicher und Basso continuo (Cembalo/Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 420737
for: Piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 144278
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 903247
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 351388
for: Cello solo, 2 horns (F), string orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 287568
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254844
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano
Set of parts
Item no.: 657969
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256358
Edition in D major
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 392850
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: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 271593
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 673293
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 373790
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749498
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 765377
for: Violin, orchestra
Klavierauszug, Stimme
Item no.: 564555
for: Harpsichord, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 149204
for: Tenor trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 304676
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 360545
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674407
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
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 pianos, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 373042
for: Flute, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116542
for: VC 2 OB-DAMORE STR BC
Score
Item no.: 369843
Two copies needed for performance
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 797270
for: Bassethorn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695992
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 557761
Urtext from: Joseph Haydn Werke, G. Henle Verlag München
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 460153
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 688018
for: Piccolo, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 329287
for: KLAR-A KLAV
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 286042
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 483294
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179576
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1592086
for: 2 violins, cello, harpsichord [harp]
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 549585
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