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: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310412
for: Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 262919
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263140
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 432993
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 258894
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355553
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355545
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 646627
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1355024
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1354986
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354960
for: 2 pianos, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 635530
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 487051
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372632
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 781440
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355552
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 291639
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611632
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611621
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 870410
for: Oboe, strings
Score
Item no.: 132437
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623643
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623586
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 338648
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606140
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 465776
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 246056
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 771482
for: Wind ensemble, percussion
Score
Item no.: 1582483
"The" piano concerto in Urtext – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561468
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 494675
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336080
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 303259
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 158501
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561019
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 189462
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 177761
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 554885
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Harpsichord solo)
Item no.: 456170
for: Viola d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Viola d'amore solo)
Item no.: 684745
for: 2 violins, cello, piano
Single part Cello
Item no.: 401286
for: 2 Oboes and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166007
for: 2 Horns and Piano
Book
Item no.: 167401
for: 2 Clarinets and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166415
for: 2 Clarinets and Piano
Book
Item no.: 166350
for: Clarinet, viola, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 617101
for: Flute, orchestra
Score, solo part
Item no.: 380122
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346038
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