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:
Edition for Violin and Keyboard
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 345316
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 117451
Hal Leonard Classical Play Along
for: Treble recorder
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 809701
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Clarinet (A) [basset clarinet], orchestra
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116514
The Four Seasons
for Violin and Piano
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 313444
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 280225
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401429
for two pianos
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (2 piano's)
Item no.: 109179
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 767294
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Oboe, violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts
Item no.: 216546
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 378113
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116479
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 362802
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 116569
with Urtext and Bärmann parts
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 342947
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401304
Transkription
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 622585
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116784
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 116561
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 586175
two copies needed for performance
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 143952
from "L'estro armonico"
for: 2 violins, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 468030
Edition for Clarinet in Bb
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 576449
Edition Schott
for: Oboe, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 420718
for: 3 cellos
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 579228
for: Clarinet, string orchestra, harp, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 632401
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298881
Urtext
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383514
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 433995
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 561233
L'estro armonico RV 356/PV 1
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 288614
for: Flute, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 390463
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 100813
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 134209
Ausgabe für Violine und Klavier vom Komponisten
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 360545
contains the unsigned solo part as well as the solo part arranged and annotated by Heinrich Schiff
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Cello, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 180584
Rahter Original Edition
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 357168
für Klarinette in B und Orchester
"Darmstädter Konzert"
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 393050
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 404440
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 193643
Piano Reduction
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 298883
Urtext
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 207941
Musica Antiqua Bohemica I/13
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123011
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Horn, orchestra
Piano reduction, 2 solo parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116793
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404360
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796372
Für Orgel solo bearbeitet
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 602555
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 116545
Ausgabe für Violoncello und Klavier vom Komponisten, Auguste Tolbecque gewidmet
for: Cello, piano
Item no.: 383385
DOWANI 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 469397
© 2004–2023 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
Spain
Poland
Italy
Sweden
Portugal
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
