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:
Die vier Jahreszeiten
L'Inverno – der Winter
for: 2 accordions (duet)
2 single parts
Item no.: 609205
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 776630
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 649297
Faksimile
for: 2 recorders, basso continuo
3 single parts
Item no.: 1659006
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 104187
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148758
First Print
The Phillip Brookes Collection
for: Clarinet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344358
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366904
Brass Collection
for: Trompete, 2 Oboen Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 468545
for: Flute, oboe, orchestra
Item no.: 380018
L'Estate/ Summer/ Der Sommer/ L'Été
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1659930
für Orgel, 3 Hörner und Streicher
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1659351
for: Flexible ensemble (5 parts), piano (school orchestra)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 119298
nach dem Konzert für Flöte, Streicher und Basso continuo G-Dur, LeeB 2.11
Berliner Klassik, Serie A, Konzerte, Band 6
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 775689
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344165
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1678337
Score
Item no.: 188399
for: Guitar and Piano
Score
Item no.: 253133
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 361183
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 350425
for: Flute, strings
Score
Item no.: 419004
for: Oboe, strings
Score
Item no.: 485274
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 745353
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 380341
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383645
First Edition
for: 3 horns (E-flat), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657525
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1690189
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1651360
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1550060
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 776629
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287513
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774459
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 612154
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1585812
op. 101
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 746702
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 752170
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Bassi rip.
Item no.: 784602
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421492
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310041
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1651015
for: Tuba, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1023602
for: Piano, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023574
for: Flute, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 564309
for: Guitar, cello, strings
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1351801
strings: 4.3.2.2.1
Swiss Composers Series
for: Guitar, cello, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1351795
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score, Solo part
Item no.: 1024987
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1024367
for: 2 trumpets, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1024131
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