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: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1219048
for: Bass clarinet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1219018
Blasorchester
for: 2 Horns & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 589109
Blasorchester
for: F Horn, Trombone & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 589108
K. 216
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280075
K. 216
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280074
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1658649
for: 2 Alto Saxophones & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1314743
Trombone Solo, String Orchestra & Continuo
for: Trombone, String Orchestra & Continuo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1312921
for: Baritone saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607022
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607019
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607015
Op. 94
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1286698
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287173
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287172
K. 191
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281988
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281957
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281955
K. 412
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1281533
Tenor Saxophone & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594645
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Horn, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392357
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392355
fatto per la Solennita della Lingua di San Antonio
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392343
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391943
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1289886
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1289875
Streichorchester
Partitur und Stimmen
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 589449
Fanna VIII, no.24 - PV 382
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1555906
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1219687
for: Brass Quintet & Brass Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298420
for: 4 woodwinds (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663668
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663667
F Major, Op. 11
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1279665
Eb Major, Op. 11
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1279659
Eb Major, Op. 11
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1279654
Klassik
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282202
Klassik
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282197
Klassik
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282167
K. 412
for: Treble recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282068
K. 412
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282065
K. 412
for: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282047
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309994
for: Alto saxophone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 270470
op. 118
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1610765
Reprint
The Phillip Brookes Collection
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344198
Klassik
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1286814
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1280935
for: Alto saxophone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1198182
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