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:
K. 412
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281516
K. 191
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281989
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281962
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281961
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281948
K. 412
for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281534
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280942
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280937
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280934
Klassik
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282205
Klassik
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282171
Klassik
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282166
K. 216
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280079
"La Cetra"
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 736015
Music Of Our Time
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 725110
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 756672
8 Timeless Pieces Arranged for String Quartet
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 750593
Edition Schott
for: Viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 746758
Edition Schott
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 749679
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1655180
Faksimile
for: 2 recorders, basso continuo
3 single parts
Item no.: 1659006
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
Urtext based on the new Beethoven Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1670428
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645836
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 1646189
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1671885
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 737478
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer 237
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1668574
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 735563
for viola with violoncello
for: Viola, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 779843
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 750143
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 740289
Concerto grosso in A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Einzelstimme ripieno
Item no.: 729354
Christmas Concert
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1667792
Konzert für Klarinette und Orchester
für Gabor Varga und das Philharmonische Orchester Györ
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1651015
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 735969
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 752170
RV 443
for: Sopranino-Blockflöte, Streicher, Basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161841
for: Flute [oboe/ bassethorn/ bassoon], orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1676785
Romantische Musik für Sopransaxophon
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 1009534
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 737833
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1671899
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668632
Nach dem Text der Gesamtausgabe
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Klavierauszug mit Solostimme Klarinette (Erstdruck)/Klarinette (Version von 1811)
Item no.: 752739
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1669551
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Streicher
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 756655
Edition Schott
for: Oboe (Flöte) und Streichorchester
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 732869
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1641850
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