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:
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 735785
RV 813
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161827
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 134040
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 329573
>> Ab Januar 2019 wieder lieferbar <<
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 459030
for: Trumpet, chamber orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 227493
für Chalumeau (Klarinette), Streicher und Basso continuo (2 Oboen und Fagott ad libitum)
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 159392
Eulenburg Audio + Score 79
for: Piano left hand, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 610179
for Cello (and optional 2nd Cello)
for: 1–2 cellos
Music score, single part
Item no.: 682080
Music Minus One
for: Piano, orchestra
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 153008
für 4 Trompeten (oder 2 Trp, 2 Violen), Solo-Violine, Streicher und Bc.
Edward Tarr Collection
for: 4 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351748
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116481
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392390
for: Double bass, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 695020
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 620986
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 288144
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1009369
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 384927
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 433995
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116479
for: für Flöte und Klavier
Klavierauszug
Item no.: 367892
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 337680
for: 3 OB 3 VC BC
Score
Item no.: 278214
for: Guitar, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254777
With two rondo versions and voices for horn in F and D
Urtext
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 145872
for: 2 VL VA VC CEMB
Score
Item no.: 605236
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 635804
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 155815
"Il Gardellino"
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165368
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 359892
for: Clarinet (a), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 116508
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116784
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 262500
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316520
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 612532
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 137688
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 157265
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 337288
for: Clarinet, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 581501
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 101469
1948/1956
for: Cello, orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 665269
two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 229267
Reconstructed after BWV 1055
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe d'amore [oboe], string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116743
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 611290
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 609488
from "L'estro armonico"
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 468030
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 349279
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 401438
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