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: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371872
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 168282
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 657978
for: Clarinet (a), orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116511
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 685916
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444676
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 167553
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 326985
for: 2 flutes, strings, basso continuo; bassoon ad lib.
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 290668
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695814
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444365
for: Harp (solo), 2 violins, viola, cello, flute, clarinet
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372525
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 303282
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 300274
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 299892
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 295239
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 193581
Flötenkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 191801
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 164725
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 159195
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 148392
for: Flute, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377939
Single part(n)
Item no.: 274657
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1677790
for: Piano, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 771017
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 375971
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345814
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 344646
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327816
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696471
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696418
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 634623
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 1031699
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 776657
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 469229
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 182227
D-Dur
for: 1-2 trumpets, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278135
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 297228
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584198
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584195
Studienpartitur
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 583667
RV 39–47
for: 4 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Score (facsimile hardcover)
Item no.: 781313
for: ABFL VC
Item no.: 613779
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 302780
für Orgel, 3 Hörner und Streicher
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1659350
HWV 306
Einzelstimme Org.
for: Organ
Single part Organ
Item no.: 236432
for: Hunting horn, organ
Item no.: 460694
Murray RWV C30 (mit Kadenzen von Kurt Meier)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1215602
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