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:
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
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
Item no.: 624413
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624408
Guitar (single part)
Item no.: 550406
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411187
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part 3
Item no.: 473295
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354984
op. 10/5
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 747269
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1346561
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624432
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 733186
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355544
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355192
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355145
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355033
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355539
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355427
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355382
for: Harp, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355268
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355267
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355120
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355036
for: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497269
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744852
für Klarinette und Orchester
Oboe 2
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Oboe 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665535
ars instrumentalis 57
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683268
nach den Kantaten 169 und 49
Ars Instrumentalis 20
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622708
ars instrumentalis 049
for: Viola
Single part Viola
Item no.: 644564
ars instrumentalis 049
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 644561
ars instrumentalis 014
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479720
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278215
ars instrumentalis 053
for: OB-DAMORE 2
Single part(n)
Item no.: 371710
op. 21Hob. XVIII: 11
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139380
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421781
op. 47/6
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 756672
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Single part Flute
Item no.: 499388
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645836
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 750143
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 737833
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Streicher
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 756655
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355045
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355152
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355214
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355420
für 2 Flöten und Kammerorchester
Violoncello/Kontrabass
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355424
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide