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:
for: Solo for Horn, Alto Trombone, Tenor Trombone, Euphonium or Eb Bass & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315230
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1314531
revised version
for: Viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 771867
Hawkes Pocket Scores HPS 1590
for: Oboe, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 666899
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 745153
Dances with the Winds op. 69
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 672096
Concerto No. 8 G-dúr fuvolára és zenekarra
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 198126
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 197938
Hegedűverseny a-moll BWV 1041
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 197773
für Trompete und Streichorchester
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 284817
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 287468
for: Violine und Klavier oder Orchester
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 287461
Concerto in mi maggiore
for: Flute, strings, harpsichord
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 213492
Armenian Composers Series
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 466867
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 189002
G-Dur
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 188753
'Die vier Jahreszeiten' im Spiegel ihrer Interpretationen durch Musiktheoretiker und Musiker, in Bearbeitungen und auf Plattencovern. Mit einer Diskographie von Roger-Claude Travers
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 188618
Musica Rara
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 190400
Collcetion branimir slokar
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 595185
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 408337
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 115350
arrangiert für Tenor-Posaune und Klavier
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 558946
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 550459
ars instrumentalis 004
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 583806
for: Cor anglais, piano
Item no.: 586967
Swiss Composers Series
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1024999
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 172085
for: Flute, strings, harpsichord
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 141913
Collection Daniel Gremelle
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 138065
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391962
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391956
for: BFL QUARTETT STR / PART
Score
Item no.: 419074
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394687
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394909
for: Trombone [Viola], chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394901
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394827
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394747
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 393365
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392540
für Kammerorchester
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Chamber orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392533
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392394
"Der Winter" f-Moll
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392349
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198917
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 487299
for: Tuba (C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 375718
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 349826
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 373187
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 372304
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