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: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766629
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421730
Praeclassica
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421484
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582962
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin
Item no.: 421778
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421625
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421603
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611634
Alte Musik (Leuckartiana)
for: Flute, string orchestra; harpsichord ad lib.
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 194660
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355146
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355561
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355536
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355386
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355384
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355164
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355161
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 611113
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355363
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355248
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363699
for: Bassoon
Single part(n)
Item no.: 361607
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585467
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Viola
Item no.: 580835
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: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459288
for: Trumpet
Single part
Item no.: 372642
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355202
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355196
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225280
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689603
Single part Oboe
Item no.: 657627
Single part
Item no.: 555835
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 727091
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 783784
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 784647
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 122109
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355556
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765715
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497886
for: Baroque orchestra
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 623919
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 624041
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