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:
Two Pianos, Four Hands
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 316174
for: 2 ABFL VL KLAV
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 285668
Mit Kadenzen von Carl Reinicke (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 116423
Complete Works for the Piano
Book XIV
Schirmer's Library Of Musical Classics
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316454
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298879
Volume 1: Concertos 1–6
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 136210
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (concertino), strings, harpsichord
Study score
Item no.: 391581
L'Estro Armonico
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 484535
Concerto flauto Amadeus 17
for: Treble recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 206641
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1479709
in one movement
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 288923
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 383050
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391995
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 166054
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 686469
Music Minus One
for: Trumpet (B-flat)
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 482015
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391910
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 630330
for: Flute, string orchestra; 2 oboes, 2 horns ad lib.
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393366
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 558204
"Petit Concerto"
Concertino
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 281796
per il cembalo concertato o organo concertato e archi
Partitur (= Orgelstimme)
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 303986
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586174
for: Flute, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 617270
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 767217
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 217498
Ausgabe für Flöte und Klavier
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 418092
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 harpsichords [2 pianos]
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 443930
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 612149
Hawkes Pocket Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 226966
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391917
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 378744
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774734
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774729
Solo-Konzert
for: Euphonium, brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1582718
From Noon to starry Night
Lauren Keiser Music Publishing
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 873871
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774747
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774746
Hal Leonard Classical Play Along
for: Treble recorder
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1690975
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 696476
The Remarkable Story of His Swansong
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 768957
LKM Music
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 872141
Elite Series
for: Concert Band/Harmonie and Baritone/Euphonium
Score
Item no.: 975835
für Violine und Orchester – Zweite Fassung 1845
mit separatem Kommentar zur Aufführungspraxis
Revidierte Ausgabe; mit einer Urtext-Solostimme und einer eingerichteten Solostimme
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 676425
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 468482
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774751
Hal Leonard Classical Play Along
for: Trumpet
Music score, CD
Item no.: 607976
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 773429
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