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: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362711
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 692066
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1114058
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355049
for: Oboe [clarinet], bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354987
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355422
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 683456
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Single part
Item no.: 1645832
aus 12 Concerti op. 3 "L'Estro Armonico"
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Baroque orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623921
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355223
for: 2 clarinets, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354983
op. 10/1
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 783771
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1549329
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 662975
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 743710
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 733193
nach Robert Schumann. Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke, Band I/2,1
for: Piano, orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 750747
for: Organ, orchestra
Oboe 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 429206
for: Descant recorder, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424964
op. 104
Einzelstimme Vl. 1
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424517
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 793577
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411188
Praeclassica
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421496
ars instrumentalis 21
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025067
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 1346562
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 1346560
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 447160
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355557
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355535
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355428
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355383
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355265
for: Harp, orchestra
Single part Harp (solo)
Item no.: 1355250
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355172
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355119
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355035
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355232
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355230
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355229
ars instrumentalis 011
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665794
für Violine und Orchester
Viola
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 157495
für Violine und Orchester
Violine 2
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 155613
für Oboe, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672711
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744848
ars instrumentalis 016
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632758
Adelaide
erstmalig herausgegeben, orchestriert und für Violine und Klavier bearbeitet von Marius Casadesus
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 248013
ars instrumentalis 038
for: OB-DAMORE
Single part(n)
Item no.: 290052
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 368575
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