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: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Music score
Item no.: 746396
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 197961
with a preface by Gidon Kremer
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 113613
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666933
for: Treble recorder
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 809701
for: Flute, harp
Score
Item no.: 238343
for: Cello, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 615166
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 148048
for: Piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 649417
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 696499
for: Trumpet
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 583696
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 326733
Standard Violin Student Repertoire – Masterfully taught by Zakhar Bron
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part, DVD
Item no.: 562314
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316979
In an arrangement by A. E. Müller after the Clarinet Concerto K. 622
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 170675
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 491871
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (2 piano's)
Item no.: 340102
for: Piano left hand, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664024
8 Timeless Pieces Arranged for String Quartet
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 750593
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 772270
Urtextausgabe
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 673064
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Royal College of Music London MS 402
Documenta musicologica II/36
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 384928
for: Piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 641673
bearbeitet für Holzbläserquartett
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 656675
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 817117
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 656406
2 Solo Pieces with Wind Ensemble Accompaniment
Home Concerti
for: Flute
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 300350
for: Cor anglais, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 641903
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1031698
RV 409
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215791
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774452
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 299752
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161829
for violin and orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736875
Edition Schott
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 746650
Edition Schott
for: Cello, strings, harpsichord
Piano reduction
Item no.: 741295
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 296885
for: Voice; piano ad lib.
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 693510
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 634517
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 643493
for violin and orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 756440
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 443230
for: 2 oboes, strings
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 182898
for: 2 cellos, piano
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 602727
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 330022
for: 2 oboes, strings
Score
Item no.: 226907
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 187868
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391912