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: Viola, chamber orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113995
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Horn 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113891
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354985
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 550402
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 433888
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624429
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 340716
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1346563
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355253
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355027
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355376
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355067
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355066
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 644535
Single part Viola
Item no.: 205597
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421628
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Single part
Item no.: 421623
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672709
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683265
Single part(n)
Item no.: 184448
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 793573
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 446341
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 181660
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499038
for: Double bass
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561021
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623913
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340852
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 468511
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424832
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424831
Single part
Item no.: 375041
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355199
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561020
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796039
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796038
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796037
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689604
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1346561
Guitar (single part)
Item no.: 550406
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355224
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 624441
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624437
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part
Item no.: 624413
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624408
Altviola
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354976
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355001
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354950
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355158
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