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:
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363699
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585467
for: Bassoon
Single part(n)
Item no.: 361607
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499039
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354975
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355351
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354988
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354989
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355157
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355423
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355568
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355569
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 499389
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424518
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549331
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 340717
for: Oboe
Single part 2
Item no.: 384178
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355388
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355377
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355362
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Horn 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355233
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355068
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355065
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354951
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 646563
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355366
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355356
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355299
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355242
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355241
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355160
for: Oboe, strings
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355062
for: Oboe, strings
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355061
for: Oboe, strings
Single parts Violins 1 and 2
Item no.: 1355060
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355041
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355026
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362707
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 145613
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 560110
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 560108
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355178
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355008
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692071
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624407
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 731264
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 727079
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 779631
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 734355
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom