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:
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 316397
F.Xii/46 - Tomo 363
for: Horn, Bassoon and Organ
Score
Item no.: 263067
for: Cello solo, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 769254
Vol. III: Concerto III in Si bemolle maggiore, Op. 2 N. 6
Edizione critica
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 549161
Studien-Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 688414
for: Harpsichord, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 261710
in E-flat Major
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 635055
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 634636
für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1
Meditation Upon Peace
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 582569
ars instrumentalis 010
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 477271
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 316219
Summer
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383140
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674029
for: 2 Violoncelli and Piano
Book
Item no.: 163862
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 474071
for: Viola, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 767370
(Urtext)
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 561502
for Violin and Orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 729686
Stimmen für Horn in Es, Trompete in Es und B
Urtextausgabe
for: Trumpet [horn], strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683950
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 278426
RV 443, PV 79
edited according to the autograph
Concerto Flauto Amadeus 20
for: Sopranino recorder [treble recorder], strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 190564
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 442955
TWV 53:D4
for: 2 violins, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 609959
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674027
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes/violins]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418536
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 740143
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 420740
gleichzeitig auch Material zu Violinkonzertfassung (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 287130
F.I-236 - Tomo 519
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263227
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 274439
Ohio Concerto
for: Flute, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256365
on the name B-A-C-H
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 256603
op. 2 Nr. 2
Partitur
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 236375
Per Orchestra E 2 Violoncelli Concertanti
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 258365
for: Cello, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 262846
Patetikus concerto
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 255102
for Bass Trombone and String Orchestra
Music for Brass (Robert King) No. 828
for: Bass trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 267841
Konzert für Violine und Orchester
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 493064
exempla nova 253
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 339101
for: Oboe (Flöte) und Streichorchester
Set of parts
Item no.: 295476
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 554889
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 551848
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 339492
for: Violin, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1355070
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 215050
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 455487
for: Tuba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 648029
für zwei Orgeln oder andere Tasteninstrumente
for: 2 pianos [harpsichords/ organs]
Music score
Item no.: 1018339
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