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:
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294110
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294109
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 241308
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 297228
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696411
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696410
Ausgewaehlte Werke 1 Bd 1
Score
Item no.: 190419
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584198
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584195
(Oversize)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 585223
Studienpartitur
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 583667
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 138574
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 391609
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392396
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 365092
for: für Flöte und Orchester Violine 2
Single part
Item no.: 368067
and Concerto No. 5 »Early Version« D major BWV 1050a
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 459284
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346032
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 344641
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345796
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 469229
für Klavier und Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 471956
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 479399
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 602371
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 182227
für Violine und Orchester
Violine 2
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 166122
KV 175, 238, 242 (2 oder 3 Klaviere), 382
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke (NMA) V/15/1 (Gesamtausgabe, kritischer Bericht) (Complete edition, Critical Report)
for: Piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 135243
for: Hunting horn, organ
Item no.: 460694
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184809
for: 3 Violinen, Streichorchester und Cembalo
Score
Item no.: 106842
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Theorbo
Item no.: 421779
for: Trumpet, strings
Score
Item no.: 214783
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Partitur (Cembalo)
Item no.: 205817
Hawkes Pocket Scores HPS 1242
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 483982
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 210586
Urtext-Edition
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229322
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 204801
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 412312
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412580
and Concerto No. 5 »Early Version« D major BWV 1050a
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459285
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335955
TWV 54:D1
ars instrumentalis 069
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Flute 1
Item no.: 465774
a Mandolino principale, due Violini, Viola, Violoncello, Basso, Oboi e Corni
for: Mandolin, baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 430446
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 430331
RV 405
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1192633
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340296
P. 55. Erstdruck
Erstdruck
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 341010
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 337356
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