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:
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
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1192632
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668255
for: 2 trumpets, piano
Item no.: 280637
Klaviersolostimme
Carl Loewe Edition Band 7
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1009443
RV 307
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161887
RV 363
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215591
RV 271
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215646
for: Horn, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1140944
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
2 Piano reductions
Item no.: 817484
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668246
RV 331
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161893
aus "L'Estro armonico"
RV 310, P 96, F.I:173
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689206
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 1655030
RV 369
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215607
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653714
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Cembalo
for: Strings, harpsichord
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 345921
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Oboe 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653064
Orchestermusik
for: Violin, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 344427
for: Flute, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 419013
for: Mandolin (soloist), mandolin orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 459035
RV 444
Einzelstimme Fl.
for: Flautino, Orchester (2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo, Basso continuo)
Single part(n)
Item no.: 424516
RV 109, 126, 127, 136, 153, 166
for: Violin, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215645
for: Flute, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 380204
for: Cello, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 379836
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 578845
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1161662
(Urtext)
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 344682
for: Flute, mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 342105
for: Alto saxophone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 922690
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1010024
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 649298
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1144665
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 775691
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 141615
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383643
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 370055
for: Organ, strings
Score
Item no.: 383292
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1010112
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774328
for: Oboe, orchestra
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 662486
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1663933
for: Trombone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1208906
for: Viola, orchestra
Einzelstimme Violine II rip.
Item no.: 784600
for: Violine, Streicher und Orgel
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 752169
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Einzelstimme Viola rip.
Item no.: 784718
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Einzelstimme Violine II rip.
Item no.: 784717
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