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:
In an arrangement by A. E. Müller after the Clarinet Concerto K. 622
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 170675
Lehrhilfsmittel
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 326733
8 zeitlose Stücke arrangiert für Streichquartett
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 491871
Urtext
Chopin National Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (2 piano's)
Item no.: 340102
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano left hand, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664024
8 Timeless Pieces Arranged for String Quartet
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 750593
Urtextausgabe
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 673064
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Royal College of Music London MS 402
Documenta musicologica II/36
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 384928
Second Edition
Band 3
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 772270
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 641673
for violin and orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736875
Edition Schott
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 746650
for violin and orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 756440
RV 409
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215791
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1031698
für Englischhorn (Horn) und Orchester
for: Cor anglais, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 641903
RV 278
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161829
bearbeitet für Holzbläserquartett
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 656675
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 656406
für 2 Oboen und Klavier
for: 2 oboes, strings
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 182898
Reconstructed from BWV 169, 49, 1053
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 205808
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 187868
2 Solo Pieces with Wind Ensemble Accompaniment
Home Concerti
for: Flute
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 300350
for: 2 oboes, strings
Score
Item no.: 226907
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 313523
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 330022
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 471509
Bärenreiter's Concert Pieces
for: Violin, orchestra
Klavierauszug, Stimme
Item no.: 612198
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 299752
pour violon (flute), viole (violoncelle ou 2. violon) et clavecin
Thesaurus Musicus 23
for: Violin [flute], viola da gamba [cello], harpsichord [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 255284
for: Horn, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 470486
for: Clarinet, string orchestra, harp, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 632401
Musica Antiqua Bohemica I/13
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123011
ars instrumentalis 20
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 109013
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 109182
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 443230
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391912
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392403
ars instrumentalis 033
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 109125
Arrangement for two pianos
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679819
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 172809
for: Mandolin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 549700
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 817117
for: Violin, string orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401427
ars instrumentalis 020
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 109012
Music Minus One
for: Piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 413420
Kadenzen zu den Flötenkonzerten KV 313, KV 314 und KV 315 von Wolfgang A. Mozart
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 620672
with ornaments by J.S. Bach
Musica Rara
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 212593
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