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, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 116564
for: Alto saxophone, orchestra
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 240220
for Bassoon, Strings, Basso Continuo (Piano reduction)
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 485783
The Four Seasons
for Violin and Piano
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 313444
for: Piano
Piano score, online audio (playback)
Item no.: 135677
Ravel Edition 2
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 1013150
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749227
for: Marimba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1021748
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1276359
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1630349
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 302929
Zwölf Konzerte für Violine, Streicher und Basso continuo
Band I: I-VI
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 746116
"Il Gardellino"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391966
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violine, Violoncello Klavier ORCH
Study score
Item no.: 391933
pro fagot a orchestr
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 773591
Ausgabe für Viola und Klavier
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 678525
Complete Works 19
Edition Paderewski
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 136890
For Trumpet, Trombone, and Orchestra
for: Trumpet, trombone, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 775143
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 274812
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Horn, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1021507
for: Bass trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 130545
for: Cello, Orchester
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 168806
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298879
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (concertino), strings, harpsichord
Study score
Item no.: 391581
IGW 50
for: 4 harpsichords
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1550300
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586174
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 767217
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 217498
Ausgabe für Flöte und Klavier
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 418092
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 harpsichords [2 pianos]
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 443930
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391917
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 383050
für Violine und Orchester
Partitur zu beiden Fassungen (1844/1845)
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 676385
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1479709
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 577769
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 558204
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 484535
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316454
for: Cello, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 287307
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391995
for: Flute, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 617270
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (2 piano's)
Item no.: 903341
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 740230
Urtext nach der neuen Brahms-Gesamtausgabe (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1552006
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391910
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 378744
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 166054
P402 / F XII:4
Musica Rara
for: Treble recorder, oboe, bassoon
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 134125
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