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:
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 685918
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 332435
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 191520
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770318
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 554886
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696421
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 615196
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 615194
Urtext based on newly found source
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute [oboe], orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487580
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191467
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191465
for: 2 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188137
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 147300
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1014004
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 486203
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 486144
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 149397
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695809
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 366213
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345816
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330996
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313418
for: Harpsichord, flute, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 189711
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188150
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 188144
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 202453
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194580
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 166098
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 687378
Reconstruction based on BWV 1056 and 156
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 374333
for: Double bass, orchestra
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 654928
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 620271
"The" piano concerto in Urtext – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561469
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487271
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487265
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 430550
Urtext based on the new Beethoven Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 274851
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 220382
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 220176
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327281
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part violin 3 solo
Item no.: 638544
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347749
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347746
for: Oboe, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 262412
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263255
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263156
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263207
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 334119
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![W.A. Mozart: Hornkonzert [Nr. 3] Es-dur KV 44, HrnOrch (Vl1)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/71/02/620271.jpg)
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