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 from BWV 169, 49, 1053
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 205808
Original Version
Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 781386
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 329614
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 109182
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 109125
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108759
for: Piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 413420
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 471509
for: Violin [flute], viola da gamba [cello], harpsichord [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 255284
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 245512
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392403
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 109013
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 620672
Arrangement for two pianos
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679819
for alto saxophone and string orchestra
Piano score and solo part
for: Alto saxophone, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 168298
for: Horn, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 470486
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 348001
for: Violin, orchestra
Klavierauszug, Stimme
Item no.: 612198
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 109012
for: Flute
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 494352
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 286079
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391909
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401413
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 193643
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 313523
two copies needed for performance
Orchestral material from Breitkopf & Härtel
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 478994
Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298466
for: Violin, string orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401427
for: Clarinet, string orchestra, harp, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 632401
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123011
for: Organ, strings
Score
Item no.: 367608
for: Flute, harp, piano
Piano score, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 184382
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 172809
from the Concerto in A major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582651
with ornaments by J.S. Bach
Musica Rara
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 212593
RV 813
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161827
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 134040
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 329573
>> Ab Januar 2019 wieder lieferbar <<
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 459030
für Chalumeau (Klarinette), Streicher und Basso continuo (2 Oboen und Fagott ad libitum)
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 159392
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 612532
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 635804
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 735785
for: 4 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351748
for: Trumpet, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 227493
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1009369
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254777
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 262500