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: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624407
ars instrumentalis 016
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632808
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1op. 54
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 560110
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1op. 54
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 560108
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 421731
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421727
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421626
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421604
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421602
ars instrumentalis 040
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585465
ars instrumentalis 050
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363440
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 340717
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Guitar (single part)
Item no.: 473297
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 473293
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355362
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355065
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355356
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549331
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424518
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362707
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 731264
"La Notte"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 741506
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Oboe 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 374670
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Single part Horn 1/2 (F)
Item no.: 374671
ars instrumentalis 072
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 578640
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Oboe 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 331384
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 145613
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692071
for: Oboe
Single part 2
Item no.: 384178
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 727080
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Single part Oboe damore 1
Item no.: 766630
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 756670
for clarinet and piano
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 793578
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784649
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765700
Concerto grosso A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 729360
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355048
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355180
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355215
for: Harp, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355269
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355350
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355042
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355162
for: 2 flutese, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355163
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355209
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355246
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355368
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355375
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