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:
Single part(n)
Item no.: 207971
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 557961
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Flute 1
Item no.: 465774
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 479399
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1645831
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336086
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770659
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 620274
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 578643
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 261194
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421490
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421489
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 314641
for: Horn, piano
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 195117
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345796
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294110
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294109
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 246581
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340296
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 339755
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346032
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335955
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229322
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184809
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 166122
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327056
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 261314
for: Trompete, Streichorchester
Score
Item no.: 196344
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 583747
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796036
for: Piano, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 772642
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771632
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611785
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Cello, violone [double bass] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 491616
and Concerto No. 5 »Early Version« D major BWV 1050a
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459285
and Concerto No. 5 »Early Version« D major BWV 1050a
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 459284
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 365092
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313415
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 292053
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 292051
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 241308
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765384
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 602371
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462134
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462131
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 366212
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 289606
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 269187
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