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: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1745013
for: Flexible ensemble (5 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663690
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663675
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663670
for: 4 horns (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663665
for: Flugelhorn, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1264675
for: 2 Alto Saxophones & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1260197
for: Violine (solo), Violine (tutti), Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 424905
for: Sopran-Blockflöte, Streicher und Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 281791
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 593682
for: Trombone, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 392840
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 478143
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230445
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230439
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230434
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225450
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225443
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225436
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225413
for: Bass clarinet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225319
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225318
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225306
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1225230
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 164260
for: Oboe, harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 194529
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1704107
for: Guitar, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392531
for: 2 violins, cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391958
for: String Orchestra and B.C.
Score
Item no.: 262800
for: Flute [oboe/violin], basso continuo
Item no.: 192843
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 284246
RV 537
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 769015
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 270841
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116783
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 244568
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 554883
from "L'estro armonico"
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1747654
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191008
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 870217
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191006
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 188196
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 663278
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582821
Versions in E major and in E flat major
Urtext
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 577773
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo, cello solo)
Item no.: 472612
for: 4 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Single part harpsichord 4
Item no.: 328043
Arrangement of the solo part by Paul Hindemith (version of the premiere in 1937)
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 613345
for horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 121127
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