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: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404479
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 141421
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 353634
for: Alto saxophone, wind ensemble
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 284191
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 393307
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 288595
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116823
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 372475
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1559905
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 322178
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 629825
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 683459
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 636347
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108947
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 323104
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 416690
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 213738
for: 2 oboes, strings
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 302189
for: Violin, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 156654
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 298260
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 109181
for: Organ, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 113551
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122105
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 330070
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 603977
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116566
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 197790
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 164312
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 207941
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 294378
for: Trumpet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1552751
for: 4 horns (F), orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 475096
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 563754
for: Violin, viola, cello, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 931808
for: Violin, String Ensemble and B.C.
Score
Item no.: 376432
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score, Solo part, Single parts
Item no.: 1031702
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 215207
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 931641
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 726018
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749245
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 576428
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 266906
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254236
"Petit Concerto"
for: Guitar, orchestra
Stimmensatz Oboe I, Oboe II, Horn I, Horn II, 4 Violinen I, 4 Violinen II, 2 Violen, 4 Violoncelli/Kontrabässe
Item no.: 729127
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 244567
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 255247
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 263099
for: Trumpet, piano, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 224597
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