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:
für Violine und Orchester
Viola
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 157495
für Violine und Orchester
Violine 2
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 155613
für Oboe, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672711
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744848
ars instrumentalis 016
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632758
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689602
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689600
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113511
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 784645
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 784646
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355054
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355052
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683455
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1354925
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354949
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355509
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355203
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355216
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340853
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Viola
Item no.: 730560
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 364707
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 121889
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 550399
aus 12 Concerti op. 3 "L'Estro Armonico"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Baroque orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 624110
op. 104
Einzelstimme Kb.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424521
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355173
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499391
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624440
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1346564
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606141
for: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497270
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582965
für Klarinette und Orchester
Horn 2
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Horn 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665533
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 1355168
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355563
for: Violin, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355467
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355465
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355426
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355374
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355369
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355194
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355167
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355123
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355034
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355025
G-Dur
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351860
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 272910
HWV 317
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harpsichord [organ] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1535167
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