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:
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1689598
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689603
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689600
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689602
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689604
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689605
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1592086
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1592131
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1677094
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1696533
Kashperova Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1687997
Rheinberger Hofmusik. Urtext-Edition der Musikakademie Rheinsberg
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690148
for Trumpet and Orchestra (Solo Trumpet and Piano Reduction)
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1619503
for: Tuba, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1690208
Rheinberger Hofmusik. Urtext-Edition der Musikakademie Rheinsberg
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690170
– Erstdruck –
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1689472
– Erstdruck –
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1689376
– Erstdruck –
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1689399
for: 2 guitars, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1689355
Kashperova Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1687995
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1681141
HPS 1440
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1681188
Urtext nach der neuen Brahms-Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680993
Urtext nach der neuen Brahms-Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680992
Urtext nach der neuen Brahms-Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680996
Urtext nach der neuen Brahms-Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680995
Urtext nach der neuen Brahms-Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1552006
for: Double bass, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1678005
Edizione critica a cura di Angela Buompastore
for: Flute [violin], orchestra
Score, solo part
Item no.: 1677490
Euphonium Concerto No 4
for: Euphonium, brass band
Score
Item no.: 1672430
D Major
for: Flute
Solo part, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 1672398
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1668253
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1645606
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1665540
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615901
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615899
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1615905
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615900
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615921
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615904
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615902
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615903
(Version in D-Dur)
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1664421
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