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:
Single part Viola
Item no.: 205597
aus 12 Concerti op. 3 "L'Estro Armonico"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623913
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624429
op. 4/5HWV 293
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 446341
ars instrumentalis 014
Single part(n)
Item no.: 184448
L'estro armonico RV 356/PV 1
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 181660
op. 101 Hob VIIb Nr. 2
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 468511
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 550402
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 433888
for: Double bass
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561021
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561020
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421628
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Single part
Item no.: 421623
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 340716
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340852
op. 10/1
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 783773
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355066
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354985
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 793573
Single part
Item no.: 375041
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 744573
op. 4/5
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 1
Item no.: 748123
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 746696
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744852
ars instrumentalis 57
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683268
Altviola
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354976
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355267
for: Harp, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355268
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355001
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354950
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355158
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355192
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355382
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355427
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355539
für Klarinette und Orchester
Oboe 2
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Oboe 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665535
ars instrumentalis 014
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479720
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355033
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355036
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355145
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 784715
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355224
ars instrumentalis 049
for: Viola
Single part Viola
Item no.: 644564
nach den Kantaten 169 und 49
Ars Instrumentalis 20
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622708
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 624441
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624437
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624432
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part
Item no.: 624413
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