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 based on newly found source
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute [oboe], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487577
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 369696
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345815
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 344643
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335925
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 335143
for: Clarinet (a), orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 116512
for: Violin, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 629784
for: Violin, string orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 629761
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 470695
for: Cello, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 291638
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 556086
for: Organ (manuals), baroque orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 556083
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327284
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 879582
for: Piano, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1615900
In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 657979
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 335485
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 327055
for: 2 flutes, strings, basso continuo; bassoon ad lib.
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 290670
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 428164
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 349643
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 346037
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 303280
for: Organ, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 300278
for: Flute, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294617
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229323
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 172948
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 153285
Reconstruction based on BWV 1056 and 156
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372227
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 364229
for: Flute, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 337845
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487217
Urtext based on the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330298
Urtext based on the new Beethoven Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 274850
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 303260
for: Symphonic orchestra
Single part(n)
Item no.: 296133
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 314647
for: 2 horns, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 797177
RV 400
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215785
RV 171
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215643
RV 410
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215647
RV 391
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215582
Reconstruction from Harpsichord version
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1559381
violin concert
Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1655155
RV 266
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215576
"Triple Concerto"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord, flute, violin, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 817354
RV 375
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1215606
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