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: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 164312
for: Organ, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 113551
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404479
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 pianos, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 373042
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 213738
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 109181
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122105
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 393307
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179576
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 603977
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 288595
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 197790
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 330070
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 360545
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 483294
for: Violin, orchestra
Klavierauszug, Stimme
Item no.: 564555
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 217422
for: KLAR-A KLAV
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 286042
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 141421
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 298260
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 207941
Two copies needed for performance
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 797270
for: Violin, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 156654
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 323104
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 688018
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
in C and D (with parts in solo- and orchestral tuning)
Download of part in Viennese tuning (A-d-f#-a)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 681912
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 674407
für Oboe und Klavier
for: Oboe, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 630660
for: 4 bassoons
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1351776
for: Trumpet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1552751
for: 4 horns (F), orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 475096
Fassung für Oboe und Klavier
Musica Antiqua Bohemica 27
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 341163
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 287784
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 563754
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 665373
for: Violin, viola, cello, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 931808
for: Violin, String Ensemble and B.C.
Score
Item no.: 376432
for flute and piano
Great Performer's Edition
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318720
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 638194
for: Trumpet, piano, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 224597
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 263099
for: Alto saxophone, string orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 558203
for: Organ (solo), string orchestra
Score, Solo part, Single parts
Item no.: 1031702
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 762462
after the Violin Concerto
Bärenreiter Urtext
– Complete performance material and Critical Commentary see BA 9019 –
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 558183
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 215207
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 187844
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 931641
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