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:
Praeclassica
for: Oboe d'amore
Single part
Item no.: 421611
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Oboe 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665534
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Trumpet solo)
Item no.: 683264
for Trumpet (Clarino), 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo
First Edition
for: Trumpet (D), orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 606143
Concerto grosso A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 729360
for clarinet and piano
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 793578
for: 2 Flöten und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784649
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355048
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355180
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497884
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499040
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 4 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765704
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765700
for: Baroque orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 623920
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645833
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645834
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1645835
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645757
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354948
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355159
for: Oboe, orchestra
Single part oboe solo
Item no.: 779206
for: 2 clarinets, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354980
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 624479
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 633080
Concerto grosso G major
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part viola 2
Item no.: 779633
for: 2 oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Single part Oboe damore 2
Item no.: 766631
Tenorviola
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354978
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Horn 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1114104
Single part Mandola
Item no.: 550404
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 550395
TWV 51:d2
Einzelstimme Vc. (Kb.)
for: Orchester (Oboe, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello / Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 424365
for organ and orchestra, 1893 – 94
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part Horn 3
Item no.: 237562
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355497
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549332
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549330
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421729
HWV 317
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1535166
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582963
for: Oboe [flute], string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355389
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355360
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355249
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355211
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355030
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355562
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355469
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355354
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355300
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355240
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