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:
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373749
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 244209
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194583
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191466
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184920
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184919
for: 2 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 157200
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 156920
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 156917
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 155611
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 314646
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148389
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 147301
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 147299
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139478
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 138240
for: Symphonic orchestra
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346033
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340298
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335953
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327356
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 224200
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 727076
Oboe (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371387
Concerto grosso in A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 734044
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 756652
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part violin 2 solo
Item no.: 411181
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499390
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355297
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355506
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355217
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113725
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354924
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 277346
Originalversion 1830
Repertoire explorer
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano
Single part Piano
Item no.: 656546
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 421725
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372985
for: Mandolin orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 645612
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355221
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 373072
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 649772
for: Descant recorder, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424962
G-Dur
for: Violin, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351862
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765749
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355391
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355361
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355031
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355570
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355473
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