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:
(Urtext)
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444566
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 304690
for: Viola d'amore, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 684744
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 680762
The Four Seasons
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330071
for: Trumpet, trombone, brass winds
Set of parts
Item no.: 1025090
for: 2 trumpets, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1024129
for: Tuba, concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031392
for: Tuba, concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 1022176
for: Trumpet, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1027122
for: Trombone, orchestra
Study score, Solo part
Item no.: 1022358
for: Trombone, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1022350
for: Trumpet, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1023102
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1022402
for: 2 trumpets, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1021793
for: Horn (E-flat/F), concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 427599
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1621874
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 774987
for: 2 violins, cello, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 314774
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330729
for: 4 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 328047
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 576849
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346039
(complete)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 340855
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487690
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 463173
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 430549
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 657977
in E-flat Major
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 634959
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 202452
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 191474
for: 2 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Single part harpsichord 2
Item no.: 188135
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180427
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148978
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 161550
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 244208
gleichzeitig auch Material zu Violinkonzertfassung (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229075
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 224244
for: Clarinet, piano
Single part(n)
Item no.: 408333
for: Tuba
Single part
Item no.: 1671097
RV 342
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215593
für Orgel und Streichorchester
for: Organ, strings
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 1658608
for: Cello, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1354997
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1161406
for: Trombone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1138244
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584197
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1655132
RV 296
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215608
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