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: Flute, strings, organ [harpsichord]
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355376
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Single part (Flute solo)
Item no.: 340716
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 775892
for: Viola, cello, string orchestra
Violin 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 644535
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 433888
Single part Viola
Item no.: 205597
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355253
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355199
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355067
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355066
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355027
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354985
for: 2 clarinets, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354982
for: 2 clarinets, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354981
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin (orchestral part)
Item no.: 683265
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499038
Single part
Item no.: 375041
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796039
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672709
Single part(n)
Item no.: 184448
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796038
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 796037
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354998
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 446341
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 421628
for: Flute, orchestra
Single part
Item no.: 421623
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 181660
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1346561
Guitar (single part)
Item no.: 550406
for: Harpsichord, piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497269
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 624441
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624437
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 624432
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part
Item no.: 624413
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 624408
op. 4/5
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, string orchestra, organ
Single part Oboe 1
Item no.: 748123
op. 10/5
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 747269
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 744573
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 733186
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Horn 2
Item no.: 784715
for: Descant recorder, mandolin orchestra
Single part 3
Item no.: 473295
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411187
op. 22
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 746696
for: Harp, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355268
for: Harp, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355267
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355224
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355192
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355158