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 concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 554888
for: Symphonic orchestra
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346033
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335953
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148389
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373749
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340298
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327356
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696475
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696473
Autumn
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693032
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 621047
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1 solo
Item no.: 369100
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 347747
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383118
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310102
for: Organ, strings
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 305711
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Set of parts (Strings)
Item no.: 665796
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 282777
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 468515
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 465773
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680991
for: Clarinet
Single part clarinet solo
Item no.: 633889
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615903
for: Flöte Oboe, Streicher, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 409365
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1555955
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 361604
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623578
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 401285
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 657981
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655939
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584996
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: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 147301
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 147299
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 138240
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421783
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1017250
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392334
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 311934
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 205237
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 272080
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 138525
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 244209
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