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 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
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 775891
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355510
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355554
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1215687
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 797762
Erstausgabe
Il Violoncello concertato
for: Cello (solo), 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 762938
Original für Gitarre und Streicher
Bearbeitet für Gitarre und Streichquartett
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, guitar
Set of parts
Item no.: 771772
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Solostimme Trompete II
Item no.: 741443
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Solostimme Oboe
Item no.: 727078
by Robert Schumann
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 728320
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 796962
“Ballade”
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1557446
Op.Viii N.12F.I-31 - Tomo 85
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 262580
Op.Iv N.8 F.I-187 - Tomo 425
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263138
Op. Iv N. 6 F.I-185 - Tomo 423
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263136
Solo-Konzert
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 265223
für Violoncello und Orchester
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310434
für Violine und Orchester (Violinkonzert Nr. 3, op. 75)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310397
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 469228
for: Mandolin (soloist), mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 493462
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, bassoon, violone [double bass] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611624
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611623
für Horn und Orchester
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 464069
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 112367
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 159808
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violoncello
for: Strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345640
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 1
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345637
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 364207
Per Strumenti Diversi, Archi e BC. - F.Xii/37 - Tomo 318
for: Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 389516
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part viola da gamba (solo) (tenor clef)
Item no.: 234721
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 3
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225042
für Klarinette und Orchester
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310204
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327163
for: 3 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 636598
for: 3 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 636595
Klavierauszug
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1346625
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383147
Piano reduction
Item no.: 384070
für Orgel und Streicher
nach dem Konzert a-Moll op.3 Nr. 8 von Vivaldi, bearbeitet von Marcel Dupré
Erstdruck
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 675041
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1017302
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 360572
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 580321
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1652014
Sinfonik des 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657586
RV 110, 118, 128, 138, 160, 162
Vol. 1
for: Violin, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215599
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