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: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391994
Music Of Our Time
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 729478
Universal Querflöten Edition
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 113401
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 664122
for: Cello solo, 2 horns (F), string orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 287568
for: Viola, Orgel, Klavier
Piano reduction
Item no.: 282521
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 283130
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 497977
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 200322
for: ORCHESTERWERKE STREICHORCHESTER SOLO-OBOE
Score
Item no.: 296337
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 741324
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1020122
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 183172
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 175700
for oboe and small orchestra
for: 2 oboes, cor anglais
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1018071
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 347839
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318076
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 389474
for: Guitar [lute], 2 violins, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 179401
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 351388
Breitkopf Urtext Ausgabe
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1340550
Ausgabe für Altposaune und Klavier
(mit Kadenz)
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 675861
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411559
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 358928
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392004
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196826
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 685277
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 132038
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 144457
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394717
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 558482
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 109132
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 144037
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 658620
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586175
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 903247
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 281183
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 378113
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 273167
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287116
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 223381
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369620
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 682409
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 100813
for: Viola, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 634608
for: Oboe (Violine), Streicher und Basso continuo (Cembalo/Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 420737
for: Piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 144278
Triple Concerto
Urtext of the New Complete Edition
Henle Studien-Edition
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 289809