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:
Cadenzas by the Composer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 737779
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 759651
RV 441
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161840
op. 4
for: Trombone, piano
Music score
Item no.: 760380
Kritische Neuausgabe der Concerti 1–6 aus Albinonis Opus X, erschienen 1736 und teilweise schon in Richtung des stile galante tendierend
for: Strings, organ
Score
Item no.: 1215549
Collegium Musicum
Kölner Reiher Alter Musik
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 767238
Erstausgabe
Il violoncello solo
for: Cello (solo), 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 762934
Edition Schott
for: Klarinette (C oder B) und Streicher; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 749501
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1677114
für Fl. I/II, Cor I/II, Streicher und Clavier
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1550430
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 767454
extrait des "4 Concertinos"
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 817470
for: Tuba, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1143796
für Horn in F oder Corno da Caccia (Trompete)in B
Europäische Musik: Deutschland
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1105838
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Bc
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1357806
für Orgel solo, 2 Trompeten, 2 Violinen, Viola und Bc (Pauken ad lib) Stimmensatz
Item no.: 627616
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 736570
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Oboe), 2 Violinen und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747262
for piano and orchestra
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 729281
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 766055
for Violin, Viola and Orchestra
op.39
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 683706
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 768832
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 772761
Edition Schott
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Conductors score reduction
Item no.: 746752
for Violin, Viola and Orchestra
op.39
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 683707
für Clarino in D und Orchester
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 657919
La Primavera/ Spring/ Der Frühling/ Le Printemps
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
Music score
Item no.: 314641
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774497
for: Tuba, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 617168
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1161663
for: Tenor horn, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632920
für drei Violoncelli und Orchester
Score
Item no.: 672260
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 659840
für Viola, Streicher und Basso continuo
Ausgabe für Viola und Klavier
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 682533
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1017464
for two Violins, Strings and B.c.
Edition for two Violins and Piano
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 682072
I.-III. Lage
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1654985
I.-III. Lage
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1629804
für 3 Trompeten, Pauken, 2 Oboen, Streicher und Bc
Edition Immer
Reihe V: Orchesterwerke mit Trompete
for: 3 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 261696
Erstausgabe
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1555645
Arrangiert und instrumentiert als Konzert für Oboe und Orchester
Vollständig in 3 Sätzen
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 635659
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1013843
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score
Item no.: 614893
for: Tuba, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031790
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 302184
Max Jobst: Ausgewählte Werke, Band 3
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 628946
Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 318768
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 633147
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide
