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: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1593389
Solo Collection
for: Alto saxophone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1657649
für Horn und Orchester
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 648782
für Horn und Orchester
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 648788
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 696467
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 767180
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1355296
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra
Viola solo, viola (orchestra part)
Item no.: 1557847
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 626915
RV 186
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161882
for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra
Complete Works Vol.II:12
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 645266
Klavierpartitur
Romantische Musik für Klarinette
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 1009525
mit Play-Along CD
Romantische Musik für Altsaxophon
Artsyrinx Playalong
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1009532
RV 420
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161891
First Print
The Phillip Brookes Collection
for: Clarinet, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1344287
Edition Immer
Reihe V: Orchesterwerke mit Trompete
for: 3 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351524
RV 88, RV 98/570 "Tempesta di Mare", 107
Vol. 1
for: Flute, oboe, violin, bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1161874
per fagotto, violinis due, alto viola, con fundamento
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1566768
for: Trumpet, strings
Score
Item no.: 1023589
Trame I-IV
Swiss Composers Series
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1023769
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1559404
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score
Item no.: 965074
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 796675
für Fagott, Streicher und Basso continuo
Fanna VIII, no.11
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 678169
Score
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 683785
(2001)
for: Voice (soprano), harp, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 776471
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1024096
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1024130
for: Flugelhorn, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1556102
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 656102
Konzert Nr. 10 für Horn und Orchester
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 660128
for: Flute, violin, cello, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1549635
Lauren Keiser Music Publishing
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 872645
Swiss Composers Series
for: Cello solo, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1024594
for low strings and violin
for: Violin (solo), 10 cellos, 2 double basses
Score
Item no.: 1655498
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1652868
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 770694
Concerto
for: Baritone horn, brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145517
RV 774
for: Violine, Orgel, Streicher und Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 549531
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 301788
Diletto Musicale - Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
Erstdruck
for: Harp, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 304737
Ausgabe für Tenorposaune und Klavier (Orgel)
for: Tenor trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 304674
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 302190
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 302186
for: 3 OB EHRN
Score, Parts
Item no.: 265694
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 265613
Breitkopf & Härtel Orchester-Bibliothek
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 328835
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 300154
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