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: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 630028
for: ORCHESTERWERKE STREICHORCHESTER SOLO-OBOE
Score
Item no.: 296337
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1020122
Ausgabe für Altposaune und Klavier
(mit Kadenz)
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 675861
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749241
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 741324
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 347839
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272406
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Piano score, solo part, 2 CDs
Item no.: 444143
Music Of Our Time
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 729478
for: Tuba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 602856
for: Tuba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 276319
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 558482
Facsimile after the autograph of the Library of Congress, Washington.
With a commentary (German/English) by Douglas Jarman
Meisterwerke der Musik im Faksimile 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 608492
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 616714
for: Cello or 2 Celli and Piano
Score
Item no.: 411559
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 389474
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 223381
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394717
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 175700
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 283130
for: Viola, Orgel, Klavier
Piano reduction
Item no.: 282521
for: Guitar [lute], 2 violins, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 179401
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 183172
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1556166
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 100813
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 378113
for oboe and small orchestra
for: 2 oboes, cor anglais
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1018071
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287116
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196826
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 273167
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 664122
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1340550
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 109132
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318076
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 200322
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108867
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369620
for: Horn, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 209438
Triple Concerto
Urtext of the New Complete Edition
Henle Studien-Edition
for: Violin, cello, piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 289809
for: Viola, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 634608
for horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298301
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 144457
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 144037
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 358928
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 281183
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 497977
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 685277
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