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: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355545
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774459
Concert Suite for violin and orchestra Op. 28 (Full Score)
Violin & Orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Item no.: 487051
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344165
Konzert für Orgel (Cembalo) und Orchester
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: 2. Violine
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 882936
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 189462
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 177761
for: 2 pianos, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 635530
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 246056
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606140
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Bassi rip.
Item no.: 784602
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 752170
op. 101
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 746702
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 465776
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 432993
for: Wind ensemble, percussion
Score
Item no.: 1582483
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 338648
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Single part Cello
Item no.: 401286
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263140
for: 2 Violins, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 263126
for: Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 262919
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 258894
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 870410
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1678337
Concerto grosso in A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Einzelstimme ripieno
Item no.: 729354
for Violin and Orchestra
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 134420
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327692
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 215325
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 247525
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 281753
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668239
Urtext nach der neuen Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680991
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1677788
nach dem Konzert für Flöte, Streicher und Basso continuo G-Dur, LeeB 2.11
Berliner Klassik, Serie A, Konzerte, Band 6
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 775691
for: Euphonium, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1022573
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 776654
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 1651896
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354921
RV 402
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215577
Consortium
for: Strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1646190
L'Inverno/ Winter/ Der Winter/ L'Hiver
aus 12 Concerti "Il Cimento dell' Armonia e dell' Invenzione"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 314646
Sieben Concerti a quattro
Erstdruck
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304991
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355550
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1192632
Diletto Musicale
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304827
for: Cello [double bass], strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 296039
D-Dur
for: 1-2 trumpets, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278136
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 141615
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