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:
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 220382
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 220176
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327281
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Single part violin 3 solo
Item no.: 638544
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347749
Tafelmusik I
TWV 53:A2
Urtext of the Telemann Edition
for: Flute, violin, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 347746
for: Oboe, Strings and BC
Score
Item no.: 262412
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 263255
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263156
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263207
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 334119
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 765717
for horn and ochestra
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 162507
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 377641
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 301018
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 273654
for: 1. Violine
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 878482
Urtext from: Joseph Haydn Werke, G. Henle Verlag München
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 476002
for Violin and Orchestra
Edition Schott
for: Violin, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 137539
for: Cello
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 670268
for: Harp, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1204164
for: Harp, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 644115
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Single part Violone [Double bass]
Item no.: 210591
for: für Orgel und Streichorchester Orgelstimme
Single part
Item no.: 113439
for: Violin, orchestra
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 665088
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 245340
for: Trombone [Viola], chamber orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355284
for: FL 2 VL VA BC
Score
Item no.: 263335
for: VL SOLO 2 VL VA VC (KB)
Score
Item no.: 263257
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263151
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263176
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 663279
Spring
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693028
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487691
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432435
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 630972
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1670422
RV 303
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215604
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Single part Organ
Item no.: 1355352
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354922
Concerto grosso D minor
for: 2 Violinen, Violoncello obligato, Streicher und Basso continuo
Streicherstimmensatz Violine 1, Violine 2, Violine 3, Violine 4, Viola 1, Viola 2, Violoncello, Kontrabass, Basso continuo
Item no.: 750146
Two harpsichord parts are included in the continuo ensemble scoring
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 1664772
RV 340
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215594
RV 417
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215784
RV 367
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215596
RV 228
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161900
RV428/F.VI: 14 "Il Cardellino"
for: Flute, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 1645837
for: 2 trumpets, piano [organ]
Item no.: 577477