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: Baroque orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313421
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313416
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 301878
P. 53 (1760). Erstdruck
Erstdruck
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304497
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 431130
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 431128
Klarinettenkonzert
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336083
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 300276
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 202454
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 335919
L'Estate/ Summer/ Der Sommer/ L'Été
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
Single part(n)
Item no.: 421487
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344524
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344573
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344203
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355542
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355543
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615902
Reconstructed from BWV 169, 49, 1053
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 272659
op. 21 Hob. XVIII: 11
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139379
Bärenreiter Urtext
Instrumentation 1. Flute, 2. Flute (Piccolo flute), Oboe (2), 1. Clarinet (in B), 2. Clarinet (in A), Bassoon (2), Horn (3), Trumpet (2), Trombone (3), Tuba, Triangle, Timpani
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 616011
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377639
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771633
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 766227
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 766220
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 765387
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373189
Rekonstruiert nach BWV 1060
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 278991
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 772640
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 772638
"Coronation Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771740
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 269188
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 463437
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330728
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486677
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 156915
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Set of parts
Item no.: 499037
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 498881
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487219
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444677
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294615
"Alla Rustica"
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392375
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392366
Flötenkonzert
Hortus Musicus
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486143
Winter
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 671886
Autumn
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693033
for: 2 Percussionists, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 769725
Original Version and Revised Version by Mozart completed by Robert D. Levin
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696681
für Klarinette, Fagott und Orchester
for: Clarinet, bassoon, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655743
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![W.A. Mozart: Konzert [Nr. 2] D-Dur KV 314 (285, FlOrch (Vla)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/37/34/463437.jpg)
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