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: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 643433
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355276
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 768264
für Klavier und Orchester
Violine 1
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377948
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362708
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347001
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Cello
Item no.: 421782
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692069
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355251
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355243
G-Dur
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351864
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645634
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 611114
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355379
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355212
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373267
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585468
for: Harpsichord
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 210150
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278216
"La Notte"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 747279
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 750749
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025070
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Horn 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665532
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622707
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 1
Item no.: 784714
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 783775
op. 10/1
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 783765
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 560111
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228549
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 696595
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372647
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355153
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355170
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351863
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355195
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424829
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 340851
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497885
for: Violin
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 580260
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765729
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354998
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 775892
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355507
for: 2 clarinets, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354981
for: 2 clarinets, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354982
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683457
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499392
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113995
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwide
stay on Stretta Music Denmark
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom