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: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 378113
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 685277
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 209438
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 223381
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 903247
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392004
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586175
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 369620
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 287116
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 183172
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 373790
per Clavicembalo o Arpa, 2 Violini e Violoncello
for: 2 violins, cello, harpsichord [harp]
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 549585
for: 2 oboes, strings
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 302189
for: Bassethorn (F), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 695992
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 636347
for: Alto saxophone, wind ensemble
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 284191
for: VC 2 OB-DAMORE STR BC
Score
Item no.: 369843
for: 2 flutes, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 482552
for: Oboe, chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 254844
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 322178
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 557761
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 372475
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 683459
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 416690
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano
Set of parts
Item no.: 657969
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116566
for: Flute, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116542
Urtext from: Joseph Haydn Werke, G. Henle Verlag München
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 460153
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 483294
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 141421
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 213738
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 353634
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 108947
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 pianos, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 373042
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 298260
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 179576
for: Trumpet, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256358
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 294378
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 765377
Edition in D major
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 392850
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 271593
for: Violin, string orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 673293
for: Organ, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 113551
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 164312
for: Harpsichord, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 149204
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 288595
Two copies needed for performance
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 797270
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 217422
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