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: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1715852
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753217
for: Viola d'amore, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 389518
for: Violin, String Ensemble and Organ
Score
Item no.: 263097
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263132
for: Percussion, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 331686
Edition Schott
for: Violoncello (Viola da gamba), Streicher, 2 Hörner und Cembalo
Klavierauszug mit Solostimme Klavierauszug = Partitur
Item no.: 726580
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 215542
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 172674
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 169882
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 169501
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1354963
for: Viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1008887
for: Oboe, wind ensemble (9 instruments), double bass
Score
Item no.: 329953
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 303616
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 297227
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 268921
Score
Item no.: 612446
for: String orchestra, piano, drums
Study score
Item no.: 1558187
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 420747
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 394830
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 394812
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394688
for: 4 recorders (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 394616
for: Trombone [Viola], chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 370212
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316564
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316565
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1203530
"Il Gardellino"
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 722398
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), trombone, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996416
for: Cor anglais, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 646892
Edition Schott
for: Oboe (Violine), Streicher und Basso continuo (Cembalo/Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 749583
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 395387
for: Marimba, concert band
Score
Item no.: 900499
Edition Schott
for: Oboe (Violine), Streicher und Basso continuo (Cembalo/Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Partitur = Cembalo/Orgel
Item no.: 743733
(Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 132803
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 771703
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 177097
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 313741
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 376026
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1635149
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 624464
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 255257
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1555792
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 745252
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1565665
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1559833
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1552047
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