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:
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354960
for: Flute, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 564309
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1355024
for: Cello [double bass], strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 273545
for: 2 Horns and Piano
Book
Item no.: 167401
for: 2 Clarinets and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166415
for: 2 Clarinets and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166350
for: 2 Oboes and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166007
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 156919
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 631075
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188214
Rekonstruiert nach BWV 1060
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 188151
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 215325
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180430
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180429
LKM Music
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 870410
Hortus Musicus
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623643
Hortus Musicus
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623586
Flötenkonzert
Hortus Musicus
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486142
for: Violin, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 629778
Einzelstimme Violine solo (Urtextausgabe)
for: Clarinet, viola, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 617101
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236377
for: Tuba, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1023602
Swiss Composers Series
for: Guitar, cello, strings
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1351801
strings: 4.3.2.2.1
Swiss Composers Series
for: Guitar, cello, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1351795
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1024131
for: Piano, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023574
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611632
"The Cuckoo and the Nightingale"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Oboe 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 879630
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771629
Rekonstruktion von Martin Jira
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 771482
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 554885
(Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444563
Diletto Musicale
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770587
ars instrumentalis 050
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 246056
for: Oboe, strings
Score
Item no.: 132437
TWV 54:D1
ars instrumentalis 069
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 465776
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 494675
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 498882
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 329341
for: Flute, orchestra
Score, solo part
Item no.: 380122
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 365908
PV 71
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 281753
Edition Schott
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 247525
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 266318
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 434060
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645162
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 456170
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