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:
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen, Streicher und Cembalo (Klavier)
Partitur = Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel
Item no.: 734178
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 730824
for: Oboe, 2 Hörner und Streicher
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 732371
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 288923
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 206641
Mit Kadenzen von Carl Reinicke (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 116423
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 166140
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 226966
for: 1–2 cellos
Parts (2)
Item no.: 667093
Reconstructed from BWV 169, 49, 1053
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 141553
for: für Flöte und Orchester
Score
Item no.: 171523
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 404440
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 911131
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 430308
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 303986
for: Organ, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 289836
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1009551
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 612149
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano
Score
Item no.: 765302
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 287133
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 281796
Two Pianos, Four Hands
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 316174
for: Trumpet (B-flat)
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 482015
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 283704
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 136568
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 136210
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 686469
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630330
for: 2 ABFL VL KLAV
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 285668
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 769405
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 116545
With marked and unmarked string part
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 310649
for: Flute, string orchestra; 2 oboes, 2 horns ad lib.
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393366
for: Euphonium, brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1582718
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 873871
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774747
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774746
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774734
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774729
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 696476
The Remarkable Story of His Swansong
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 768957
für Violine und Orchester – Zweite Fassung 1845
mit separatem Kommentar zur Aufführungspraxis
Revidierte Ausgabe; mit einer Urtext-Solostimme und einer eingerichteten Solostimme
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 676425
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 468482
for: Concert Band/Harmonie and Baritone/Euphonium
Score
Item no.: 975835
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 872141
for: Trumpet
Music score, CD
Item no.: 607976
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774751
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 773429
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