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:
"Alla Rustica"
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392375
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392366
für Klarinette, Fagott und Orchester
for: Clarinet, bassoon, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655743
for: 2 violins, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355499
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351790
for: Clarinet, chamber orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611554
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 499350
for: Trumpet, chamber orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1022333
for: Piano, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1023572
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355314
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1354962
for: Harpsichord [piano], string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 170300
for: für Flöte und Orchester Viola
Single part
Item no.: 368068
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 578644
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 578641
for: 2 flutes (solo), violin (solo), cello (solo), strings, basso continuo
Single part Flute 2
Item no.: 465775
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 298793
for: Clarinet, bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655741
for: Violin, string orchestra, organ
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1667761
for: Violin, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 294500
for: Piano, orchestra
Set of parts (Wind instruments)
Item no.: 560107
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 288508
for: Violine und Streichorchester; 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner ad libitum
Additional parts: strings
Item no.: 158572
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 310000
for: 2 ABFL 2 HRN 2 VL 2 VA VC (KB)
Study score
Item no.: 241173
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 282801
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 289800
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 645365
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 797764
for: 2 horns, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 796938
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 383701
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 776628
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 672713
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 637796
for: 2 FL 2 VL 2 VA VC
Score
Item no.: 608381
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 304497
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 335919
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Score
Item no.: 493432
for: 2 Trompeten, Violine, Streicher, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 474816
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 561951
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1690225
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1355059
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1340697
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1166064
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1010110
for: 2 lyras [2 treble recorders/treble recorder, oboe], 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello/double bass
Set of parts
Item no.: 499037
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 277341
Reconstruction based on BWV 1056 and 156
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 372226
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