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:
Ausgabe für Violine und Klavier – Rekonstruktion nach dem Cembalokonzert f-Moll BWV 1056
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679978
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 358524
Saxophone Mib Seul
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat)
Single edition
Item no.: 101092
The Masterworks Library
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 148048
8 Timeless Pieces Arranged for String Quartet
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 750593
Klassik
for: Trombone, piano
Score
Item no.: 266906
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 255168
Concertino, D-dúr op. 5
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 197847
F. IX. No. 1, P.V. 75
for: 2 trumpets, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, 2 Parts
Item no.: 198411
In an arrangement by A. E. Müller after the Clarinet Concerto K. 622
BÄRENREEITER URTEXT
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 133076
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774747
UMPC Critical Editions
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 685493
Anweisungen für den Dirigenten
for: Piano, orchestra
Book
Item no.: 372648
Lehrhilfsmittel
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 326733
Classic Clarinet Series
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 339405
for: Cello
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 773429
First Edition
Band 1
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 772272
Omaggio a Federico Fellini
for Alto Saxophone, Circus Band and Wind Orchestra
for: Alto saxophone, concert band
Score
Item no.: 796788
Cambridge Music Handbooks
for: Clarinet
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 771251
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774737
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774751
Oxford Keynotes
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 864056
for: Cello, orchestra
Single part (Cello solo)
Item no.: 837817
Brass Solo
for: Trumpet
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 583696
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774749
LKM Music
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 872141
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774746
Second Edition
Band 3
for: Piano, orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 772270
The Remarkable Story of His Swansong
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 768957
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 774735
Klassik
for: Flute, harp
Score
Item no.: 238343
From Noon to starry Night
Lauren Keiser Music Publishing
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 873871
Lauren Keiser Music Publishing
for: Alto saxophone, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 879977
Cambridge Music Handbooks
for: Clarinet
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 228664
for: Oboe, piano
Book
Item no.: 322889
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 774730
(Op. III, N. 6)
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 816842
Klassik
for: Saxophone and Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 835673
two copies needed for performance
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 143952
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 681339
for two Violins, Strings and B.c.
Edition for two Violins and Piano
for: 2 violins, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 682072
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 681340
for Violin and Orchestra
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391978
Ausgabe für Viola und Klavier
for: Viola, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 678525
Edition for Oboe and Piano
John Williams Signature Edition
for: Oboe, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 661540
for Double Bass and orchestra
(with Violin obbligato)
in C and D (with parts in solo- and orchestral tuning)
Download of part in Viennese tuning (A-d-f#-a)
for: Double bass, orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 681912
Arrangement for two pianos
Two copies needed for performance
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679819
für Fagott und Orchester
Ausgabe für Fagott und Klavier
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 682009
für Violine und Orchester
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391919
Nach dem Adagio aus dem Klarinettenkonzert KV 622
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 649151