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: Piano left hand, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 610179
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 284942
für Trompete in Es oder B (Horn in Es)
for: Trumpet [horn], strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 683969
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394711
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391924
for: Harp, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 763057
First Edition
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 494610
for 2 Horns, Strings and Basso continuo
for: 2 horns, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 753226
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1136871
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 696249
for: 2 pianos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 585257
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 404279
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 421003
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 376745
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 129217
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 409421
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 284891
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 446028
Edition Schott
for: Flute, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 735660
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 144411
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 774301
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 109094
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1016251
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, piano, orchestra
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 298743
for: Trumpet (E-flat), piano
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 285962
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 225377
for: 2 bassoons, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 554451
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394646
for: Piano, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 657594
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 280193
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 358524
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 612200
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 379144
Eulenburg Audio + Score
for: TRP ORCH / VC ORCH
Study score, CD
Item no.: 566232
for: Cello solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 287555
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 164132
gleichzeitig auch Material zu Violinkonzertfassung (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 161016
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 367743
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 582822
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 395386
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 634647
for: Clarinet (a), orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383697
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 108994
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 927440
for: Oboe, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696042
for: Clarinet (A)
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 554997
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 649188
for: Trumpet, piano
Klavierauszug
Item no.: 401014
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