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 and piano
Great Performer's Edition
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318720
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316453
für Oboe und Klavier
for: Oboe, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 630660
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 665373
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 577288
for: 4 bassoons
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1351776
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: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 341163
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116796
Urtext edition based on HN 7248 (G. Henle Verlag, Munich)
for: Oboe, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 776818
for: Double bass, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 762462
for: Alto saxophone, string orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 558203
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683714
The Complete Chopin – New Critical Edition
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 490101
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 287784
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 549791
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: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 638194
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 366626
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 149184
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 461865
for: Cello solo, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 769256
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 216546
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 394865
for: Guitar, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393942
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 283756
with Beethoven's original cadenzas
– Two copies needed for performance –
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401415
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 229046
for: Flute, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393379
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392538
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392534
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298882
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 357989
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 109211
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 261198
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 486517
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162080
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165335
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 404386
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 361110
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 101466
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 186169
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 276256
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 187844
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 287212
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492973
for: Violin, cello, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 156173
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 194283
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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)
