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: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 633080
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 122073
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 398060
Single part Mandola
Item no.: 550404
Single part Mandolin 1
Item no.: 550395
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
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
aus 12 Concerti op. 3 "L'Estro Armonico"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Baroque orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 623912
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765693
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355007
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 205596
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362713
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362711
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
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355056
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355043
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
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 582963
ars instrumentalis 014
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479723
ars instrumentalis 014
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479722
HWV 317
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1535166
ars instrumentalis 011
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665778
ars instrumentalis 005
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373269
ars instrumentalis 005
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373268
nach den Kantaten 169 und 49
Ars Instrumentalis 20
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622706
FUER FLOETE UND STREICHORCHESTER CELLO/BASS
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225284
für Violine und Orchester
Violoncello / Kontrabass
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 155129
ars instrumentalis 005
Single part(n)
Item no.: 202690
ars instrumentalis 044
Single part(n)
Item no.: 298791
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278218
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692066
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497623
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Single part Flute
Item no.: 421776
"La tempesta di mare" (op, 10,1; PV 261)
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421729
Praeclassica
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421624
ars instrumentalis 050
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363438
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355279
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