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:
mit allen von Mozart selbst stammenden Kadenzen
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392333
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 112368
Musica Mundi 22
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 397731
zur Aufführung werden zwei Exemplare benötigt
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 284527
Hornkonzert Nr. 1
for: Horn, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 284361
Concertino
for: Sopranino recorder [treble recorder], strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281750
op. 20
for: Klavier mit 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und Streicher
Score
Item no.: 281732
op. 1/1
for: Violine, Streicher, Orgel (Cembalo); 2 Hörner in A ad libitum
Conductors score reduction
Item no.: 281695
KV 216
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 281692
Concertino
for: String quartet [string orchestra]; basso continuo ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 281632
für Klavier und Orchester
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 358704
for: Oboe, 2 Hörner (ad libitum) und Streicher
Klavierauszug mit Solostimme
Item no.: 357301
Viola-Concerto
Music of Our Time
for: Viola, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 288473
for: Harp, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 297092
für 2 Liren
5 Concerti
for: 2 ABFL (FL/OB) 2 HRN STR
Score
Item no.: 297004
RV 429, RV 435, RV 440
Music Minus One
for: Flute
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 261882
Score
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 318240
F.Xi-10 - Tomo 36
for: String Orchestra and B.C.
Score
Item no.: 262454
F.Vii-17 - Tomo 520
for: Oboe, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 263228
Op.III N.4 RV 550 F.I, no.174 - TOMO 409
for: 4 Violins, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 263125
F.I-117 - Tomo 262
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 262952
F III, 17 - TOMO 243
for: Concert for 1 or 2 Violoncelli
Score
Item no.: 262913
F III, 14 - TOMO 233
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 262904
Per Violoncello, Corni, Archi
for: Violoncello, Horns and Strings
Score
Item no.: 265267
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 265051
facsimile of the autograph draft
for: Viola, orchestra
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 167495
Alte Musik (Leuckartiana)
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 173270
Edition Vieweg (Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 171804
for: 2 Oboen 2 Fagotte, Streicher, Basso continuo
Partitur (Cembalo)
Item no.: 205827
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 206508
ars instrumentalis 015
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 207507
Basso continuo score
for: 2 Blockflöten, 2 Oboen, Violinen und Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 208032
für Flöte und Orchester
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 430079
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 227667
Oboenkonzert (komplett) (complete)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 226767
Repertoire Explorer
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 236600
L'Estro Armonico
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 182412
per flauto, archi e cembalo (F.VI. No. 11, P.V. 440)
for: Flute, strings, harpsichord
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 179033
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 246597
Octavo Edition
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 223180
Eulenburg Audio + Score
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 445116
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 599456
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 482802
Concertino für Flöte und Klavier
Ibermúsica Instrumental Series
for: Flute, piano
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 478844
L'Autunno/ Autumn/ Der Herbst/ L'Automne
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score, Piano score
Item no.: 369773
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 372084
Musica Rara
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 370621
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 428685
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