concerto

concerto, plural concerti or concertos, since about 1750, a musical composition for instruments in which a solo instrument is set off against an orchestral ensemble. The soloist and ensemble are related to each other by alternation, competition, and combination.

A concerto (/kənˈtʃɛərtoʊ/; plural concertos, or concerti from the Italian plural) is, from the late Baroque era, mostly understood as an instrumental composition, written for one or more soloists accompanied by an orchestra or other ensemble.

The word "concerto" is Italian for "concert," and a wide array of musical pieces may be presented as a concerto. In most cases, concertos highlight a virtuoso soloist playing extended featured passages with orchestral accompaniment.

From this point forward in history, the term concerto refers to a solo concerto. Though the basic principle of contrasting a soloist with a full orchestra remains, changes are made to the form of the movements and the most commonly used solo instruments.

A concerto is a piece of music written for one or more solo instruments and an orchestra.

Concerto Definition

• a large ensemble accompaniment, usually the string orchestra.
• a soloist, usually with an instrument such as a violin, flute, or trumpet.
• cadenzas, which are unaccompanied, highly virtuosic sections performed by the soloist at the end of each movement, and sometimes performed improvised.

Today, the classical concerto is written for a variety of instruments and features three movements: a lively opening movement, a slow lyrical middle movement, and a quick tempo third movement. The solo instrumental concerto is the most frequently performed type of classical concerto.

The main point of difference is that in a concerto there a featured soloist (or soloists) is given the chance to really stand out. In concert they will stand up front – so not within the instrumental section of the orchestra.

Popularized in the Baroque era and refined by Mozart, Haydn, and other Classical-era composers, the concerto is essentially a conversation between soloist and orchestra in three movements. Different textures, themes, and emotions are explored, and in a way, it's much like a good play or movie plot.

A Concerto is a piece of music for a solo instrument that is accompanied by an orchestra. The Baroque period is from 1600 to 1750. Famous composers of Baroque Concertos are: Vivaldi, Handel and Bach.

The interaction or conversation (sometimes they're friendly, sometimes angry) between the orchestral ensemble and the soloist is what makes the concerto interesting. This continues throughout all the movements but with contrasting things in each.

Two types of concertos were popular during the Baroque: the solo concerto, with one instrument set against the orchestra; and the concerto grosso, with a small group of soloists and orchestra.