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.: 316219
for: Oboe (Violine, Flöte), Streicher und Cembalo
Piano score (conductor)
Item no.: 101643
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1592131
Collection Maurice André
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1139851
Das Schönste für Alle
for: Youth symphony orchestra [youth string orchestra/ youth concert band], choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 276505
"Der Winter" f-Mollop. 8/4RV 297 / PV 442
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 352280
F III, 24 - TOMO 524
for: Concert for 1 or 2 Violoncelli
Score
Item no.: 263232
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 382581
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: String quartet, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736794
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 740387
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755883
Kadenzen von Thomas Demenga
for: Cello, orchestra
Music score
Item no.: 660580
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Study score
Item no.: 722978
Erstausgabe der Original-Fassung, RV 444
Concerto flauto Amadeus
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 772982
RV 418
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161833
Hawkes Pocket Scores HPS 1388
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1664732
Edition Schott
for: Flute, oboe/ flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1664816
von Vivaldi in D-Dur
for: 2 trumpets, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1638953
1.-5. Lage
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1668655
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1552716
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 743582
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1671654
Der Herbst aus "Die Jahreszeiten"
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1659180
Farewell to philosophy
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 748900
Corona - Werkreihe für Kammerorchester
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten, Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Streicherstimmensatz 3,3,2,3
Item no.: 779658
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 741210
for: Viola, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 754386
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 658106
Edition Vieweg (Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1672199
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758736
for Tenor Trombone and Strings
Complete Works Vol. II:18
for: Trombone, strings
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1655243
Arrangement
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1355785
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1345297
for: Horn (E-flat/F), concert band
Score
Item no.: 1145389
For Solo Violin, Viola, Cello and Strings
for: Violin, viola, cello, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 931792
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 931645
for: bassethorn (F), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1549634
for: Flugelhorn, brass band
Score
Item no.: 1143120
Coronation - Concerto II
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 740270
Transcription of the Sonata in g for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord
BWV 1029
for: 2 violas, 2 viole da gamba, cello, violone, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 678646
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344017
Ohio Concerto
for: Flute, concert band
Score
Item no.: 1628875
for: Tuba, strings, timpani
Study score
Item no.: 1021610
Konzert für Violine und Orchester
exempla nova 382
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1651007
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 797769
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 691239
for: Chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 425108
pour cor alto oder cor basso
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1676940
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