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:
pour flûte à bec alto
for: Treble recorder
Music score
Item no.: 247735
Spring
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 383139
two copies needed for performance
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401399
Stephenson Music
for: Piccolo trumpet, wind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1166049
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 404152
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 165348
pour orchestre avec clarinette principale
Solo-Konzert
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 660547
Studien-Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 155919
für Trompete (B) und Klavier
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198426
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749249
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 749299
for: Horn (F), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 645861
für Viola, Streicher und Basso continuo
Quellenpublikationen aus dem Archiv der Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, Bd. 14
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 682532
for: Cello, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1011228
for: Cello, strings
Score
Item no.: 1615971
für Violine solo, Streicher und zwei Cembali
"Per la S. S. Assunta di Maria Vergine"
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1657093
1.-5. Lage
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1657497
for: 5 bassoons
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663680
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1566612
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1630361
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1593405
for: 4 trumpets [5 cornets]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663687
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Study score
Item no.: 749307
for: Guitar, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1670166
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1593382
Viola-Concerto
Music of Our Time
for: Viola, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1671250
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 648354
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 754278
RV 551
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1161870
Concerto sereno
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 746694
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 743506
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1593386
con due violini e due violoncelli, archi e basso continuo
unvollständiges Werk - rekonstruierte Urtextausgabe
for: 2 violins, 2 cellos, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 673131
op. 74
für Klarinette und Orchester
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2005
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Partitur = Basso Continuo
Item no.: 754119
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344353
Concerto
Music for Euphonium/Baritone
for: Baritone horn, brass band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1143394
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 932155
for: Marimba, orchestra
Study score, Solo part
Item no.: 1023246
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1670600
EMB Contemporary Music
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 822557
Kalmus Orchestra Library
for: Tuba, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1651072
Prima edizione assoluta e critica
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1549854
for: Tuba, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 932130
Reprint
The Phillip Brookes Collection
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344932
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753256
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344852
for Piano and Orchestra
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 750745
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