Concerto – Sheet Music & Scores

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!

Concerto Grosso

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.

• Concertos by Giuseppe Torelli
• Concertos by Arcangelo Corelli

Solo Concerto

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.

• Concertos by Vivaldi
• Concertos by Bach
• Concertos by Handel

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:

• Piano Concertos by Mozart
• The Clarinet Concerto by Mozart
• Cello Concertos by Haydn
• The Trumpet Concerto by Haydn
• Concertos by C.P.E.Bach
• Piano Concertos by Beethoven

In the romantic period, almost all major composers devoted themselves to solo or double concertos of all kinds. Here are a few romantic favourites:

• Concertos by Tchaikovsky
• Concertos by Brahms
• Concertos by Dvořák
• Concertos by Schumann
• Concertos by Mendelssohn
• Concertos by C.M. von Weber

More links for Concertos

• Concertos for Piano
• Concertos for Organ
• Concertos for Violin
• Concertos for Cello
• Concertos for Trumpet
• Concertos for Horn
• Concertos for Flute
• Concertos for Clarinet
• Concertos for Oboe