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: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 726018
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749245
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 576428
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366626
The Complete Chopin – New Critical Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 490101
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116796
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 156173
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165335
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 357989
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 101466
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 549791
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316453
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 186169
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 361110
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 404386
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394865
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 255247
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 261198
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 194283
for: Flute, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393379
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392534
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 577288
for: Guitar, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393942
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492973
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 216546
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392538
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298882
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 109211
Auskoppelung aus der Praktischen Orgelschule op. 55, Band 5, Nr.8
Nachdruck Ausgabe W. Volckmar
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 461865
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 675668
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 149184
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 276256
for: Cello solo, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 769256
for: Trombone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 266906
Twelve Concertos for Violin, Strings and Basso continuo
op. 4
Volume I/ I-VI
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 629792
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254236
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 287212
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683714
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486517
Urtext edition based on HN 7248 (G. Henle Verlag, Munich)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 776818
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 774985
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 229046
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162080
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 283756
"Petit Concerto"
for: Guitar, orchestra
Stimmensatz Oboe I, Oboe II, Horn I, Horn II, 4 Violinen I, 4 Violinen II, 2 Violen, 4 Violoncelli/Kontrabässe
Item no.: 729127
"Der Winter" aus den "Vier Jahreszeiten"
bearbeitet für Sopransaxophon und Saxophonquartett
for: Soprano saxophone (solo), 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 674999
Concerto 3-4, Vol. II
Stimmensatz in Faksimile, arranged from Harpsichord Sonatas
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 563756
arranged for Harp Quintet
for: Flute, violin, viola, cello, harp
Set of parts
Item no.: 605438
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![W.A. Mozart: Konzert [Nr. 2] D-Dur KV 314 (28, FlOrch (KASt)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/73/29/492973.jpg)
