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:
Includes six harpsichord concertos in full score.
for: 2 harpsichords, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 416718
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 391931
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1276349
for: Viola, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 122054
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196716
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 168234
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 666877
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1687995
for: Trombone, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 688959
Edition for Horn and Piano
for: Horn, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 684132
for: 2 harpsichords, strings, basso continuo
2 Piano reductions
Item no.: 1711803
for: Harpsichord [piano], chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 274442
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 255934
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 255315
for: Flute, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 210461
for: 2 violins (soli), string orchestra, piano
Score
Item no.: 187303
for: für Violine und Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 136513
for: für Violine, Violoncello und Kammerorchester
Score
Item no.: 296747
for: Trumpet (B-flat), orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1659523
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383514
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392537
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392000
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 357532
for: Classical guitar, chamber orchestra
Score, Solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 606762
for: Oboe, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391979
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 284362
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 187267
for: 4 recorders (AATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 624467
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1012560
for: Guitar, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 353330
for: für Klavier und Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 492875
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 287122
for: Double bass, string orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1555558
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 357168
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 608532
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 375416
pour basson et orchestre
Edition pour basson et piano
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 677110
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 817228
supplied with parts for horn soloist in E-flat or F
for: Horn, brass band
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1590901
für 3 Trompeten, Pauken, 2 Oboen, Fagott, 2 Violinen, Viola und Bc.
Musica con clarino 64a
Originalkompositionen mit Naturtrompete(n)
for: 3 trumpets (D), baroque orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351735
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344607
RV 194
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts, Piano reduction
Item no.: 1161872
for: Trumpet, trombone, brass winds
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 1025091
für Oboe und Orchester
for: Oboe, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 677589
(IP 55)
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1557382
for: Piano, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 817689
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753217
Erstausgabe
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1549389
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