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: Symphonic orchestra
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346036
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346035
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 497886
Swiss Composers Series
for: Piano, brass ensemble, latin percussion
Set of parts
Item no.: 1671639
for: Piano, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1355213
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 473697
RV 211
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215581
Rekonstruktion nach TWV 42:A9/TWV Anh. 42:G
Magdeburger Telemann Edition
for: Treble recorder, oboe [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781079
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1652021
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1628877
RV 257
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215598
RV 406
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215788
for: Horn, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 327236
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 776653
RV 240
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215585
RV 190
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215588
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1668024
Berliner Klassik, Serie A, Konzerte, Bd. 7
for: Viola (solo), 2 horns, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1646317
L'Estro Armonico
for: 4 violins, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 153451
RV 401
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215703
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 796961
for: Marimba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1120899
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373188
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 302779
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 331731
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1192631
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234723
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1478374
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 337361
for bassoon, strings and basso continuo (set of parts)
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1555779
op. 2 Nr. 1
Einzelstimme Va.
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass, harpsichord
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 236373
Summer
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1654824
for: Flexible ensemble (5 parts), piano (school orchestra)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 119299
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben Urtext
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 774841
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355225
for: 2 trumpets, strings, timpani
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355147
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344339
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1344123
Concerto for Two Horns and Orchestra in E-flat
Solo Instrument(s) & Orchestra
Item no.: 631214
First Print
The Flemish Music Collection
for: Cello, orchestra
Item no.: 1344491
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354994
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354993
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351792
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 493100
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 585439
für Klarinette und Orchester
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 665530
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649407
for: Cello [flute/clarinet], orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 649035
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