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: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1555938
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1555906
for Bassoon, Strings and Harpsichord
Fanna VIII, no.24 - PV 382
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 684647
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 361317
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1610765
for: Horn, bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 775686
First Edition
for: Piano, bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 693442
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 687066
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 682050
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 642225
for: ABFL OB VL BC
Set of parts
Item no.: 109146
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1478382
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 462440
for trombone and strings
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1556044
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 559653
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 497371
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 182653
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391987
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391943
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1696533
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1680976
gleichzeitig auch Material zu Violinkonzertfassung (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Solo part(s)
Item no.: 272640
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 223560
for: Trumpet (C/B-flat/E-flat), organ
Item no.: 431561
for: Euphonium, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 315353
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 167413
for: 2 treble recorders, 2 horns, strings
Score
Item no.: 174718
for: Flute, oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 167781
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 282598
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 583741
for: Double bass, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683149
for: Viola
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 361508
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 378948
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383128
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 620988
"Coronation Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 459293
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 301016
for: Baroque orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 289310
for: 2 descant recorders, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 337908
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 157994
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304883
for: Piano, strings
Score
Item no.: 282574
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 282745
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 772219
for horn and piano
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 634703
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 554925
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 770514
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 155919
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