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: Flute, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294615
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 273871
for: Clarinet, bassethorn [2 clarinets], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 229319
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 159197
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 159196
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 374189
Original Version and Revised Version by Mozart completed by Robert D. Levin
for: Horn, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 696681
for: Oboe, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 301878
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 190557
for Clarinet and Orchestra
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 190556
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184807
for: für Flöte und Orchester Viola
Single part
Item no.: 368068
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 156909
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 1677792
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1677787
for: Flute, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 463437
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 487219
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 431130
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Urtext
for: Bassoon, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 431128
Urtext based on the Brahms Complete Edition of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna
for: Piano, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294108
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336083
for: 4 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 328045
for: 4 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 328044
for: Violin, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 184918
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 177602
for: Oboe, string orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 167912
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 156915
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 2 violins, string orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1690313
for: 3 violins, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 775891
for: Flute, 2 violins, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355510
for: Cello, strings, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355554
Erstausgabe
Il Violoncello concertato
for: Cello (solo), 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 762938
“Ballade”
Repertoire Explorer
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1557446
für Violoncello und Orchester
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310434
für Violine und Orchester (Violinkonzert Nr. 3, op. 75)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310397
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 469228
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Cello, bassoon, violone [double bass] (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611624
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 611623
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 112367
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 159808
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violoncello
for: Strings, harpsichord
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345640
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 1
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345637
Edition Schultheiss
for: Organ, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 364207
Telemann-Archiv
for: Viola da gamba (solo) [viola/ cello], 2 violins, basso continuo
Single part viola da gamba (solo) (tenor clef)
Item no.: 234721
für Streichorchester und Cembalo
Violine 3
for: Strings, harpsichord
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 225042
für Klarinette und Orchester
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 310204
for: 3 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 636598
for: 3 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 636595
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide
![W.A. Mozart: Hornkonzert [Nr. 1] KV 412 (386b, HrnOrch (Vl2)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/81/66/696681.jpg)
![W.A. Mozart: Konzert [Nr. 2] D-Dur KV 314 (285, FlOrch (Vla)](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/37/34/463437.jpg)
