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. 104
Einzelstimme Kb.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424521
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 3
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225042
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violoncello
for: Strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345640
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 1
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345637
op. 104
Einzelstimme Va.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424519
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vc.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424520
Corona - Werkreihe für Kammerorchester
for: Oboe, piano
Single part
Item no.: 191457
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Vc. (Kb.)
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236379
op. 2 Nr. 1
Einzelstimme Va.
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236373
op. 2 Nr. 1
Einzelstimme Vl. 1
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236371
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Vl. 1
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236376
op. 2 Nr. 1
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236372
op. 2 Nr. 1
Einzelstimme Vc. (Kb.)
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236374
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Va.
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236378
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236377
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623237
from the Concerto in A major
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582651
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Streicher und Basso continuo
Solostimme
Item no.: 214148
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645833
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645834
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645835
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645836
for: Oboe
Single part 2
Item no.: 384178
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499390
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499391
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499392
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499393
für gemischten Chor (SATB) a cappella
HCCS - Helbling Choral Concert Series
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 659540
Single part
Item no.: 375041
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Single part
Item no.: 1645832
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 784647
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Einzelstimme Violine IV
Item no.: 779632
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Viola rip.
Item no.: 784601
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 784644
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784648
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 779631
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784649
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Oboe 1
Item no.: 784643
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 784650
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part viola 2
Item no.: 779633
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: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Violine I rip.
Item no.: 784599
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 750143
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Bassi rip.
Item no.: 784602
Christmas Concerto
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Einzelstimme Violine II solo/rip.
Item no.: 724949
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Violine II rip.
Item no.: 784600
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113725
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