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:
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1140578
for: 2 pianos
Book
Item no.: 1215017
for: String orchestra, organ
Organ reduction
Item no.: 1163167
Star Music Publishing
for: Alto saxophone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1563073
CD: Orchestral Accompaniment for Solo Flute, various tempi
CD
Item no.: 300092
from the Concerto for Two Mandolins
Violin Solo or Section Feature
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 686413
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 382383
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 382586
for: Piano 4 hands [2 pianos]
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 1558328
for: Horn, brass band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 315604
Le dolcezze e l'amerezze della notte
for: 2 Oboen, 2 Violinen, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 463848
Masterpieces for Band 3
Supreme Sound CD
Audio-CD
Item no.: 1188898
ALB
Reduction for Harp and Piano, written in 1952 for the distinguished harpist Nicanor Zabaleta.
for: Harp, piano
Item no.: 324165
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat)
Music score
Item no.: 101092
per due oboi, archi e cembalo (F. VII. No. 8, P.V. 53)
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 255485
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 339006
In Full Score Op 8 Complete
for: String ensemble
Score
Item no.: 244342
Two Pianos, Four Hands
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 229475
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1314531
for: Solo for Horn, Alto Trombone, Tenor Trombone, Euphonium or Eb Bass & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315230
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1578101
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1578093
for: Double bass, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1578085
for: Tuba, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1021662
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1128268
for two trombones and piano (reduction) (with optional 2nd piano and percussion)
Amstel Concert Band
for: 2 trombones, piano; piano, percussion ad lib.
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 1208695
for: Violin, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 589753
Amstel Concert Band
for: Euphonium, concert band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1208852
for: Euphonium, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1208720
for: Concert band
CD
Item no.: 693262
Amstel Concert Band
for: Euphonium, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1011220
Trompete & Streicher
for: Trumpet, String Orchestra & Percussion
Sheet music
Item no.: 589541
Blasorchester
for: 4 trombones, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 589399
Trompete & Streicher
for: Trumpet or Piccolo Trumpet & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 588098
Streichorchester
Partitur und Stimmen
for: F Horn, Trombone & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596636
Horn, Posaune & Streicher
for: F Horn, Alto Trombone & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596628
for: Trombone [alto trombone], piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 593744
Flute & Klavier
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 593497
Flute & Klavier (Organ)
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594650
Collcetion branimir slokar
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 595185
Solo for Eb Horn, Alto Trombone, Trombone, Euphonium or Eb Bass
for: Solo for Eb Horn, Euphonium, Alto Trombone, Tenor Trombone or Eb Bass & Brass Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315957
for: Trombone, orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1276438
Hob.VIId:3
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1279961
for: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1276362
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309991
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309989
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1311956
for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1287338
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