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: TRP-D 2 HRN STR
Score
Item no.: 374375
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 379126
for: VL CEMB STR
Score
Item no.: 282471
for: 2 violins (soli), cello (solo), 2 violins, 2 violas, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304793
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 296243
for: für Flöte und Orchester
Score
Item no.: 289159
for: BFL ENSEMBLE (+ VL/VC)
Score
Item no.: 327241
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 385714
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1137362
First Edition
for: 3 horns (E), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1659223
for: Trompete, 2 Violinen, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 429655
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 475611
for: Oboe, violin, strings, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 140991
for: Trautonium, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 242709
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 205855
for: Tuba, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1640424
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1010117
for: 4 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1010115
for: Bass trombone, concert band
Score
Item no.: 926909
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 259753
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Flute (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424833
Spring
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693022
for: Tuba
Single part
Item no.: 372984
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1696524
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355200
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655938
for Violin and Orchestra
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 133367
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 772641
"Coronation Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771742
"Coronation Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771741
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 303756
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 289607
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 327815
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 292052
(Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444564
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355017
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355143
for: Trombone [Viola], chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355283
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194876
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263150
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263192
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263209
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 263226
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 303751
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 314647
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194875
for: Harp (solo), 2 violins, viola, cello, flute, clarinet
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1666963
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1703743
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