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:
RV 443, PV 79
edited according to the autograph
Concerto Flauto Amadeus 20
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 190565
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 209177
for: Oboen (2), Streicher
Score
Item no.: 208498
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 217849
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 217424
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet (A) [basset clarinet], orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 217359
EMB Works for Youth Orchestra
for: horn, chamber orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 256450
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 256357
per 3 violini, archi e cembalo RV. 552 (F.I. No. 139, P.V. 222)
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 255470
EMB Study Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 256673
(F. I. No. 176, P.V. 1)
for: Violin, strings, harpsichord
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256591
Op. Ix: N. 9 In Do Op. Ix: N. 9 In Do
for: 2 Oboes, Strings and Harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 258629
Musik für Oboe
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 355348
RV 436/PV 140 F VI No. 8
for: Flute, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281748
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 281747
for: Klarinette (C oder B) und Streicher; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 281726
Fassung für zwei Klaviere
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 284358
für 2 Liren
5 Concerti
for: 2 treble recorders, 2 horns, strings
Score
Item no.: 282604
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 413370
F.Xi-19 - Tomo 176
for: String Orchestra and B.C.
Score
Item no.: 389502
für Flautino (Sopranblockflöte), Streicher und Basso continuo
Erstausgabe der Original-Fassung
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 389454
F.I-178 - Tomo 414
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 389430
Corona – Werkreihe für Kammerorchester 127
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 178562
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Score, solo part
Item no.: 176552
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 128236
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1653517
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 411179
In einer Bearbeitung von A. E. Müller nach dem Klarinettenkonzert KV 622
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Flute, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 133076
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 130295
nach dem Urtext herausgegeben und mit Generalbass versehen
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 129458
Hortus Musicus
for: Flöte, 1. Violine (ripieno)
Stimme
Item no.: 430376
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 430330
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116822
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 333617
für Orgel, 3 Hörner und Streicher
for: Organ, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 237554
RV 424 - F.III/9
for: Cello, strings, harpsichord
Set of parts
Item no.: 260107
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1012598
für Orgel, 3 Hörner und Streicher
for: Organ, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 682875
Adelaide
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 728747
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392354
für Violine und Orchester
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 662759
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 185831
Urtext der Joseph Haydn–Gesamtausgabe
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 184238
Music Minus One
for: Violin
Solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 182591
per violoncello, archi e cembalo
Concerto D-dúr
gordonkára, vonósokra és csembalóra
for: Cello, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 256409
mit einer revidierten und vereinfachten besser spielbaren Klavierbegleitung
for: Trumpet (B-flat/E-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 767329
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 663298
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1345076
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