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:
Reconstructed after BWV 1055
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe d'amore [oboe], string orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116742
for: Harpsichord, flute, violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 116705
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116558
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116289
(Urtext)
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 116280
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122110
op. 2 Nr. 2
Partitur
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 236375
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 274439
Ohio Concerto
for: Flute, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256365
F.I-236 - Tomo 519
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263227
on the name B-A-C-H
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 256603
Per Orchestra E 2 Violoncelli Concertanti
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 258365
for: Cello, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 262846
F.Xii/46 - Tomo 363
for: Horn, Bassoon and Organ
Score
Item no.: 263067
F.Xii-45 - Tomo 362
for: 2 Oboes, Bassoon and Strings
Score
Item no.: 263066
F.Xi-18 - Tomo 161
for: String Ensemble, Organ
Score
Item no.: 262774
for Bass Trombone and String Orchestra
Music for Brass (Robert King) No. 828
for: Bass trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 267841
Patetikus concerto
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 255102
per violino e orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 179032
3-3-2-2-Cemb-Bc
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1591985
Musik unserer Zeit
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 659901
für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1
Meditation Upon Peace
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 582569
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 604445
Aus "Die vier Jahreszeiten" für zwei Blockflöten (SA/AT) in wechselnden Besetzungen
Concerto op. 8, Nr. 1, RV 269
for: 2 recorders (SA/AT)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 603630
A New Critical Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 562662
Flötenkonzert
Hortus Musicus
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 561129
ars instrumentalis 010
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 477271
für Klavier und Orchester
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 462655
für Violine und Orchester
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 462654
Hausmusik
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 460478
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 374187
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
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664557
Complete Edition with critical report
Abteilung III
Band 5
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (hardcover, with musicological analysis)
Item no.: 773861
Second edition
Band 4
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 772275
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 768048
Viola-Bibliothek
for: Viola, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 767370
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 765388
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674029
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674027
for: Harpsichord, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 261710
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 225675
Includes Demontration and Backing Tracks Online
Music Minus One
for: Clarinet
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 209004
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 259162
TWV 54:D1
ars instrumentalis 069
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 109306
for: Organ, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 113601
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 280181
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