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: Cello, orchestra
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 1346560
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 447160
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355557
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Viola 1, 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355535
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355428
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355383
for: Harp, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355265
for: Harp, orchestra
Single part Harp (solo)
Item no.: 1355250
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355232
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355230
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355229
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355277
for: Oboe
Single part(n)
Item no.: 278220
for: OB-DAMORE
Single part(n)
Item no.: 290052
for clarinet and orchestra
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 793577
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 733193
for: Oboe, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 632758
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672711
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665794
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 363439
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1025067
"La tempesta di mare"
for: Flöte (Alt-Blockflöte), Streichorchester und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 743710
for: Organ
Single part
Item no.: 305657
for: Descant recorder, 2 violins, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 744848
for: Flute solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424830
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1704105
for: Baroque orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 623921
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 248013
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355049
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355035
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355119
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355172
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 157495
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 155613
from: "L'Estro Armonico"
Collection Charles Bouvet
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 411188
for: Treble recorder, flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 683456
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 368575
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Single part Recorder 2
Item no.: 347000
for: Viola, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1113511
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355054
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355052
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1354925
for: Flute, oboe, bassoon, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354949
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1355509
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355216
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 550399
op. 104
Einzelstimme Kb.
for: Flute, oboe, strings, organ
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424521
TWV 51:D3
for: Flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499391
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