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:
Klavierauszug
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1346625
Piano reduction
Item no.: 384070
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1652014
RV 110, 118, 128, 138, 160, 162
Vol. 1
for: Violin, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215599
Accort B 8
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367890
mit allen vom Komponisten selbst stammenden Kadenzen
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392401
jodel voice and strings or piano reduction
in Fa maggiore
Swiss Composers Series
Set of parts
Item no.: 1671551
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344084
for: Trumpet (solo), wind ensemble, percussion
Set of parts
Item no.: 1026773
for: Trumpet, brass band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1024520
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 332687
für Klarinette, Fagott und Orchester
for: Clarinet, bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655740
for: Cello [flute/clarinet], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649034
für Oboe d'amore, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335802
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355546
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355028
for: Euphonium, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1022572
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611556
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611553
pour flûte avec accompagnement d'orchestre
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1340738
for: Trombone, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1022812
for: Tuba, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023757
op. 2 Nr. 2
Einzelstimme Va.
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236378
op. 46/1
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Solostimme Trompete II
Item no.: 741443
for: Trumpet, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1016793
for: 2 trumpets, concert band
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 1016784
Autumn
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 693035
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 766134
after BWV 593
Copy on request
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765385
Ludwig Güttler Collection
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 632732
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 378156
Studienpart
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 117651
für Violine und Orchester
Hawkes Pocket Scores HPS 866
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 215128
für Orgel und Streicher
nach dem Konzert a-Moll op.3 Nr. 8 von Vivaldi, bearbeitet von Marcel Dupré
Erstdruck
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 675041
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 463176
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 331382
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 558551
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 353100
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 261862
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225283
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 304583
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1215687
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657586
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383147
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 360572
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 797762
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 796962
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