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: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 816922
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 776619
for: Horn, bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 775686
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 687066
for Bassoon, Strings and Harpsichord
Fanna VIII, no.24 - PV 382
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 684647
First Edition
for: Piano, bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 693442
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 682050
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 680238
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 378948
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1650855
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 442702
for: Flute, oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 167781
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 459395
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 202437
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 200251
for: 2 treble recorders, 2 horns, strings
Score
Item no.: 174718
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 179996
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 298041
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1632951
for: Viola
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 370785
for: Marimba, concert band
Score
Item no.: 900499
for: Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 390679
for: Violin, String Ensemble and Organ
Score
Item no.: 263097
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 771703
for: Piccolo trumpet, wind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1166049
for: 6 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1703210
for: Recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1011195
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 361317
for: Alto saxophone, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 576557
for: Trombone [Viola], chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 370212
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 772219
for: Violin
Buch + CD
Item no.: 469398
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316564
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 395387
for: Trombone, brass band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 321458
for: Cor anglais, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 646892
for: Viola
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 361508
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 376026
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
String parts (3/3/2/3)
Item no.: 297641
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 281731
for: 2 descant recorders, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 337908
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 157994
for: Tuba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1345586
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 745252
Winter
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 383146
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 681234
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (hardcover, with musicological analysis)
Item no.: 212620
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 111850
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
