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:
Antiqua
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225280
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459288
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499039
MWV Q 23
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497886
ars instrumentalis 040
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 585467
Konzert für Cembalo und Kammerorchester
Single part Oboe
Item no.: 657627
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin
Item no.: 421778
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421730
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421625
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421603
Praeclassica
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421484
ars instrumentalis 049
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363699
for: Trumpet
Single part
Item no.: 372642
ars instrumentalis 041
for: Bassoon
Single part(n)
Item no.: 361607
op. 7/3HWV 308
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Viola
Item no.: 580835
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1689603
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 784644
op. 10/5
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 747270
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 727079
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 499389
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784648
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 779631
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte, Oboe, Fagott und Orchester
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 734355
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354975
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355178
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355351
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354988
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354989
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355157
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355423
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355568
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355569
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624407
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 340717
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Guitar (single part)
Item no.: 473297
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 473293
for: Organ, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549331
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vl. 2
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424518
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 731264
"La Notte"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 741506
for: Oboe
Single part 2
Item no.: 384178
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355008
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354951
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355388
for: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355377
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355362
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Horn 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355233
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355068
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