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:
Orchestral Score
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 283741
in Partitur gedruckt; zur Aufführung werden zwei Exemplare benötigt
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 284439
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 204423
F.I-203 Tomo 449
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 389435
Edward H. Tarr Series 7
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 154161
für Violoncello und Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 562468
Alte Musik (Leuckartiana)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 101468
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 100829
Alte Musik (Leuckartiana)
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 176681
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 182956
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 168379
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 109239
for: Oboe, wind ensemble (9 instruments), double bass
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 149149
Musica Mundi 7
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 159843
für Violine und Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 363400
Erstausgabe
Veröffentlichung des Franz Danzi Archivs 3
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 347417
from "The Four Seasons"
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 343331
für Klarinette
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 338239
for: Flöte, Kammerorchester
Score
Item no.: 342126
for: Klavier, Kammerorchester
Score
Item no.: 290725
Vivaldi Urtext Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 666979
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 463851
for: Trumpet (C/B-flat), organ
Item no.: 204407
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 738062
for the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 c minor op. 37, 1. movement by Ludwig van Beethoven
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 722780
for Bass Clarinet and Ensemble
for: Bass clarinet, chamber ensemble
Score
Item no.: 684682
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
Ausgabe für Oboe d'amore und Klavier
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394946
F. I/180 - TOMO 418
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263131
Edition Schott
for: Violine, Streichorchester und Cembalo (Klavier)
Partitur = Cembalo, Klavier
Item no.: 748241
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 243556
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 121543
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1655197
Kaul III/36, Murray C49
for: horn, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1558133
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 345940
for: Treble recorder, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 236362
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 300189
op. 104
Partitur
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Score
Item no.: 231689
for: Organ, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 237656
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Organ, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 237553
TWV 51:d2
Partitur
for: Orchester (Oboe, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Score
Item no.: 177007
Bearbeitung für Blockflötenquartett
nach dem Concerto in a RV 356 aus "L'estro armonico" op. 3
for: 4 recorders (SninoATB)
Score
Item no.: 143210
Two Pianos, Four Hands
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 395185
für 2 Trompeten in C, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: 2 trumpets (C), piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 140592
für vier Blockflöten in wechselnden Besetzungen
for: 4 recorders (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430980
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1670056
für Violine, Viola und Violoncello
Ursprünglich ein dreisätziges Werk für zweimanualiges Cembalo in F-Dur
for: Violin, viola, cello (string trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 684112
"Winter" F Minor
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 723104
Dover Full Scores
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book
Item no.: 244569
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