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: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 376117
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 372885
for: Violinen (2), Streicher (1. Violine, 2. Violine, Viola, Cello, Kontrabass, Cembalo)
Score
Item no.: 563757
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 648787
for: 2 harpsichords
Score
Item no.: 648709
for: Harpsichord, strings
Score
Item no.: 648593
for: 2 violins (soli), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 767821
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 816922
for: Organ, accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 776619
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 680238
for: Piano
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 1650855
for: Horn, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 442702
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 459395
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 202437
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 200251
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 179996
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 298041
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1632951
for: Viola
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 370785
for: Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 390679
for: Piccolo trumpet, wind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1166049
for: 6 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1703210
for: Recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1011195
for: Violin
Buch + CD
Item no.: 469398
for: Tuba, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1345586
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 111850
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 373504
for: Alto saxophone, strings
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1671262
for: Oboe [flute], chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 851031
for: 2 clarinets, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 850520
for: Bass trombone, brass band
Score
Item no.: 1208684
for: Trombone, orchestra
Partitur, Leihmaterial
Item no.: 1585816
for: Trombone, brass band
Score
Item no.: 1208721
for: Clarinet, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1638755
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 266998
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 477179
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 469397
Edition Schott
for: Viola, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 749947
Edition Schott
for: Klarinette und Streichorchester; 2 Hörner ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 746754
for violin and orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 737285
Edition Schott
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 736660
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749303
Concerto grosso in A Minor
for: Violin, harpsichord, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 748110
Edition Schott
for: Oboe (Flöte) und Streichorchester
Score
Item no.: 740656
"Winter" F Minor
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 739671
for Piano and Orchestra
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 722779
op. 82
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 722547
Edition Schott
for: Oboe (Violine, Flöte), Streicher und Cembalo
Piano score (conductor)
Item no.: 725740
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