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:
Single part
Item no.: 375041
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355199
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1346561
Guitar (single part)
Item no.: 550406
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355224
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 624441
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624437
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part
Item no.: 624413
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624408
Altviola
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354976
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355001
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354950
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355158
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part 3
Item no.: 473295
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354984
for: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497269
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624432
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355192
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355145
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355033
for: Oboe, bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355539
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355427
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355382
for: Harp, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355268
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355267
op. 21Hob. XVIII: 11
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 139380
nach den Kantaten 169 und 49
Ars Instrumentalis 20
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 622708
Praeclassica
for: Flute, oboe, violin, cello, theorbo, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421781
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355544
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683268
for: Viola
Single part Viola
Item no.: 644564
for: Organ, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 644561
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1479720
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Oboe 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665535
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 733186
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 746696
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 744573
op. 4/5
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 1
Item no.: 748123
op. 10/5
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 747269
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278215
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744852
for: OB-DAMORE 2
Single part(n)
Item no.: 371710
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411187
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355120
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355036
Swiss Composers Series
for: Piano, brass ensemble, latin percussion
Single part (Piano solo)
Item no.: 1671640
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 172971
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113953
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwide
stay on Stretta Music Denmark
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom