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.: 350425
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148758
"The" piano concerto in Urtext – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561468
First Print
The Phillip Brookes Collection
for: Clarinet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344358
for: Guitar and Piano
Score
Item no.: 253133
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366904
for: Flute, strings
Score
Item no.: 419004
für Violoncello und Orchester ".... wo die Trompete das Thema beginnt! "
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310412
(Violinkonzert Nr. 2)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310041
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287513
op. 101
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 746702
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355552
Swiss Composers Series
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score, Solo part
Item no.: 1024987
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611621
Brass Collection
for: Trompete, 2 Oboen Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 468545
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 303259
originally for percussion and orchestra transcribed for wind ensemble by Andrew Boysen Jr. (1997)
for: Wind ensemble, percussion
Score
Item no.: 1582483
für Flöte (Fagott ad lib.), Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383645
Urtext
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Single part Cello
Item no.: 401286
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 380341
for: Flute, oboe, orchestra
Item no.: 380018
op. 101 Hob VIIb Nr. 2
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336080
für Trompete (Violine, Blockflöte), Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Trumpet [violin, recorder], strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236350
für Viola d'amore, Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Corona - Werkreihe für Kammerorchester
for: Viola d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Viola d'amore solo)
Item no.: 684745
Hortus Musicus
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 291639
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1651360
L'Estate/ Summer/ Der Sommer/ L'Été
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1659930
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606140
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372632
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 361183
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 155014
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346038
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 333404
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327692
für Orgel, 3 Hörner und Streicher
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1659351
for: Harpsichord, flute, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 341084
Sol Min. F.Xii/33 - Tomo 249
for: Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 262919
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1550060
HWV 306
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236427
Eulenburg Orchestra Series
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421492
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234724
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 237660
for: Flexible ensemble (5 parts), piano (school orchestra)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 119298
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 432993
nach dem Konzert für Flöte, Streicher und Basso continuo G-Dur, LeeB 2.11
Berliner Klassik, Serie A, Konzerte, Band 6
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 775689
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1585812
First Edition
for: 3 horns (E-flat), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657525
Murray RWV C30 (mit Kadenzen von Kurt Meier)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 612154
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