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:
op. 10/1
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 205237
für 2 Violinen, Violoncello und Orchester
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 138525
3-3-2-2-Cemb-Bc
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1591985
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 275592
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 192614
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 186936
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 472608
Erstdruck
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 304690
"Propitia Sydera"
(4/3/2/2/1)
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: 2 violins (soli), cello (solo), 2 violins, 2 violas, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 305113
for: Piano Quintet
Score, Parts
Item no.: 638060
Konzert für Violine und Orchester
exempla nova 377
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1552883
for: Marimba, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 835854
Per Violoncello E Orchestra
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 257948
Per fagotto, violoncello e orchestra
for: 2 melodic instruments (C/B-flat/E-flat), concert band
Score
Item no.: 1031272
Critical edition of the score
Edizione critica della partitura (komplett) (complete)
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 260536
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 259162
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1031170
Chant funèbre – Trauergesang
Swiss Composers Series
for: Violin, brass ensemble (10 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1043666
Swiss Composers Series
for: Trumpet, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1022148
Concertino
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 167001
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1024129
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: Trumpet, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023102
The Brass Press
for: Trumpet (D), chamber orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 462188
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1024096
Swiss Composers Series
for: Panpipe, chamber orchestra
Score, solo part
Item no.: 564296
for: Trumpet (D), strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 456746
for: Trumpet, brass band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1024520
Das Konzert bei Telemann und seinen Zeitgenossen
Telemann-Konferenzberichte XXI
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 780916
Orchestermusik
for: Violin, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 344427
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1009551
(nach KV 313)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1672845
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben Urtext
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 774841
Double Concerto for Solo Violin and Solo Trumpet, Ensemble and 11 Music Boxes
Gegenwartsmusik
for: Violin, trumpet, chamber ensemble
Score
Item no.: 683499
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 142897
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 444466
für Klavier und Orchester
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 667032
The Good King Chills Out in Winter
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 762624
Version prepared from the composer's original manuscript
for: Viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 771870
for: Flute, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632540
for: Horn (F), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 645861
von Vivaldi in D-Dur
for: 2 trumpets, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1638953
MusicWorks Grade 3
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 338625
Franz Berwald. Sämtliche Werke 5
for: Violin, orchestra
Gesamtausgabe, Partitur, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 116610
for: Cello, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 781096
The Music of Johan de Meij
for: Cello, concert band
Score
Item no.: 1208887
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1555587
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 289800
Prima edizione
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 656805
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