The Solo Concerto Through History

A solo concerto is essentially a symphony for soloist and orchestra. The largest number of concertos feature virtuoso pianists or violinists. It is usually a three-movement form. Towards the end of the first movement the orchestra stops and the soloist shows off by performing the cadenza which may or may not feature improvisation on earlier themes. The concerto grosso, popular in the Baroque Era, featured a small group of soloists. A good example is the collection of six Brandenburg Concertos by Bach.

Vivaldi The Four Seasons, Mandolin

Concerto in C, Concerto: 2

Trumpets

Bach Piano Concerto in D minor,

Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor

Mozart Piano Concerto 23, Clarinet

Concerto, Sinfonia Concertante

Haydn Trumpet Concerto

Beethoven Piano Concertos 1-5,

Violin Concerto

Chopin Piano Concerto 1 and 2

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

Schumann Piano Concerto, Cello Concerto

Grieg Piano Concerto

Scriabin Piano Concerto

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, Piano Concerto 1

Brahms Double Concerto, Violin

Concerto, Piano Concerto 2

Dvorak Cello Concerto

Bruch Violin Concerto

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto 2

Shostakovitch Piano Concerto 1

Sibelius Violin Concerto

Berg Violin Concerto

Bartok Piano Concertos 2 and 3,

Concerto for Orchestra

Gershwin Piano Concerto in F,

Rhapsody in Blue

Prokofiev Piano Concerto 3

Barber Violin Concerto