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:
ars instrumentalis 049
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363699
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355146
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459288
for: Descant recorder, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424965
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: Orchester (Oboe, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424363
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355363
Alte Musik (Leuckartiana)
for: Flute, string orchestra; harpsichord ad lib.
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 194660
aus 12 Concerti op. 3 "L'Estro Armonico"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 624041
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 727091
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421730
for: Trumpet
Single part
Item no.: 372642
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 784644
op. 10/5
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 747270
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 727079
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 499389
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784648
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 779631
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 734355
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354975
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355178
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355351
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 646563
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: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355026
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355041
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355068
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355157
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355160
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Horn 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355233
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355241
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355242
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355299
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355366
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355377
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
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355569
for: Oboe, strings
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355061
for: Oboe, strings
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355062
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355008
Diletto Musicale
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770591
for: Oboe, strings
Single parts Violins 1 and 2
Item no.: 1355060
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355388
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354951
op. 4/1HWV 289
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 311223
Adelaide
erstmalig herausgegeben, orchestriert und für Violine und Klavier bearbeitet von Marius Casadesus
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294502
ars instrumentalis 049
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 644554
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