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 horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116275
for horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 103393
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part violin 3 solo
Item no.: 411182
Klavierkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 457204
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part
Item no.: 179797
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184232
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 154348
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1 solo
Item no.: 411180
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 796389
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 262414
Versions in E major and in E flat major
Urtext
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 577789
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582819
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582817
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116123
for: Piano, string orchestra [string quartet]
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 133471
Klavierkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 457203
Klavierkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 457201
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 868847
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 576683
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184236
for: Alto saxophone, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584131
for: Alto saxophone, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584130
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116119
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 762223
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 146872
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 299371
The Four Seasons
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 330075
RV 212
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215649
RV 419
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215648
RV 416
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215579
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1655029
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191007
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191005
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 762199
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 762198
for: 4 recorders (SninoATB)
Score
Item no.: 269320
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 364233
for: Bassethorn (clarinet in F), orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 682358
for: Alto saxophone, string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584133
Reconstructed from BWV 169, 49, 1053
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 272657
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116120
(Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 601350
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487047
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 665088
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 762201
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Bassoon solo (single part)
Item no.: 648773
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 663274
for horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 162507
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