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: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391996
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 299315
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1689606
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1689598
for: Euphonium, concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1043056
for: Euphonium, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031793
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 266198
for: Piano, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1000708
for: Trombone, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1021545
for: Viola
Item no.: 421497
for: Oboe [flute], piano
Item no.: 466399
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313419
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 335145
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335928
for: POS, 5 Posaunen, (4 POS)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 444288
for: Cello, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 245338
for: 2 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Single part harpsichord 1
Item no.: 188603
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 326520
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327811
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 190558
for: Flute, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377942
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 144876
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 364402
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 637513
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336085
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 685920
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655937
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 657980
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 663285
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 620273
Original Version and Revised Version by Mozart completed by Robert D. Levin
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696682
Original Version and Revised Version by Mozart completed by Robert D. Levin
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696679
"The" piano concerto in Urtext – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561467
"The" piano concerto in Urtext – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 561466
for: Oboe, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 301877
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184921
for: 4 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 328046
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1680993
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 774988
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 157500
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184806
for: Organ, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194582
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 430548
Urtext based on the new Beethoven Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 274855
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771646
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 161546
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 300277
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330107
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![W.A. Mozart: Hornkonzert [Nr. 3] Es-dur KV 44, HrnOrch (Vla)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/73/02/620273.jpg)
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