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:
Organ Concerto No. 8 HWV 307
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ, orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 148388
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 124609
for: Flute solo, 2 flutes, alto flute, bass flute
Score, Parts
Item no.: 289815
for: 3 recorders (ATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 312430
The first definitive author's version – In Cooperation with G. Henle Verlag
for: Cello, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 186936
for: 2 oboes, strings, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 414256
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 257948
for: Flexible ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 1031110
for: Bassoon, strings, harpsichord
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 850900
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 229051
for: Flute, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 550070
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 145900
for: Violin [flute], viola da gamba [cello], harpsichord [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 255300
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 255255
for: Trombone, concert band
Score
Item no.: 1636385
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 850382
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 198766
for alto trombone and string orchestra
for: Alto trombone, strings
Score
Item no.: 822793
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 274496
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 256548
Der Sommer aus "Die Jahreszeiten"
for: Violin solo, string orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 163445
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 599469
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 378464
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 215538
for: Descant recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 177264
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 382498
A selection an arrangement of piano pieces by Handel
Aulós 225
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ
Score
Item no.: 697411
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 636147
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 313064
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215632
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 330265
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263157
for: Flute, String Ensemble and Organ
Score
Item no.: 262692
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 389512
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts (Strings)
Item no.: 410200
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 358703
edition pro salon
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 761990
for: Harpsichord solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1555629
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 666753
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 163647
From the opera "Emma und Eginhard"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 280739
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 175126
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 175123
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116553
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 603193
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 164730
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1677094
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