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:
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 3 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116827
Vivaldi Urtext Edition
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 763755
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116782
for: Piano Quintet
Score, Parts
Item no.: 638075
"Emperor"
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 737138
of the concerto for flute, harp and orchestra KV 299
for: Flute, harp
Solostimmensatz
Item no.: 750140
for: Piano Quintet
Score, Parts
Item no.: 638060
for: Trumpet (B-flat) [cornet], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1351441
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 362767
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 372550
for: Tuba, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 462233
for: Violin
Solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 350884
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393377
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 273224
for: Clarinet [violin], viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 357260
for Violin and Orchestra
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391978
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 632105
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 244146
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 296589
for: 2 pianos, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 186754
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 116785
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 378904
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 166099
(Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 601347
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 287082
for: Trumpet, 2 oboes, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 294163
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 173555
Versions in E major and in E flat major
Urtext
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 683686
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 658025
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404578
for violin and piano
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404281
for: Cello
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 465411
Die vier Jahreszeiten - Der Herbst
bearbeitet für Sopransaxophon und Saxophonquartett
for: Soprano saxophone (solo), 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 669313
Pour Vlc De Vivaldi
for: Trumpet, organ
Buch
Item no.: 312710
F:VIII,13 / PV 46
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 618485
Simrock Original Edition
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 174314
Concerto flauto Amadeus 6
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 200582
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 767179
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 559793
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 109096
for: Harpsichord, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 163964
First publication
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 171376
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 409360
for: Flute, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 667655
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318719
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 480254
for: Horn, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 459291
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 485153
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