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:
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 649208
Francesco Geminiani Opera Omnia
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 637483
für Klavier und Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 633096
Study Score
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 312776
Erleichterte Fassung
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1560539
Edition Schott
for: 4 violas
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1340564
(Version in D-Dur)
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1664421
for: Flute, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664562
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1349822
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1355150
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 775617
Concerto for soprano saxophone (or B clarinet) and saxophone ensemble
for: Soprano saxophone, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 775153
Southern Music
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924462
for: Flute, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 666545
Corona - Werkreihe für Kammerorchester
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 181338
Dover Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra and Piano
Study score
Item no.: 290854
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 247578
F.I-38 - Tomo 96
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 262590
EMB Study Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 262152
Instrumental works by A. Vivaldi edited by G. F. Malipiero
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 263223
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263127
F.I-172 - Tomo 379
for: Violin, String Ensemble and Organ
Score
Item no.: 263098
F.I-110 - Tomo 255
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 262945
F.I, no.67 - TOMO 160
for: Violin
Sheet music
Item no.: 262773
for: Violine, Streicher
Score
Item no.: 302176
Full score containing both Violin Concerto and Double Concerto revised and edited Sir Thomas Beecham
Delius Complete Works 30
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 303747
Ausgabe für Horn u. Klavier
Erstdruck
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 304708
Klarinétverseny
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 255385
per violino, archi e basso continuo RV 310 (F. I. 173, P.V. 96)
G-dúr hegedűverseny op. 3, No. 3 RV 310
EMB Leggiero
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 256585
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 256288
per viola, archi e cembalo (F. III. No. 15, P.V. 369) (orig. per violoncello, archi e cembalo)
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256222
Zongoraverseny
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 256208
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 312508
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 494226
Softcover
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 296500
KV 218
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 662667
for: Trumpet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271727
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272386
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272322
for 2 oboes and strings (Score)
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1555953
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 681340
(nach KV 313)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1672847
Study Score
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 318261
für Oboe und Orchester
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 320611
(Urtext)
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 245796
Hob. VIIh: 5, Hob. VIIh: 1-5
for: 2 ABFL (FL/OB) 2 HRN STR
Study score
Item no.: 241176
for: 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 469180
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 176199
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