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
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 580260
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 784714
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 696595
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645634
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 643433
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 611114
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 473694
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377948
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 680405
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372647
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692069
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347001
for: Harpsichord
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 210150
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025070
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362708
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355379
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355251
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355243
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355212
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355195
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355170
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355153
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351864
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351863
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228549
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 768264
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278216
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355276
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 560111
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585468
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Horn 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665532
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622707
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373267
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Cello
Item no.: 421782
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683457
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499392
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113995
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Horn 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113891
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 550402
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1346563
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424832
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424831
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 727102
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 793573
op. 10/1
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 783773
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624429
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689604
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355507