concerto grosso in music meaning

Meaning of Concerto Grosso in Music

A concerto grosso is a form of baroque music that emerged in the late seventeenth century. It is characterized by the contrast between a small group of soloists, known as the concertino, and the full orchestra, known as the ripieno or tutti. The musical material is passed between these two groups, creating a dynamic interplay between the soloists and the larger ensemble. The term "concerto grosso" translates to "big concert" in Italian, reflecting the larger scale and scope of this musical form compared to the solo concerto.

History of Concerto Grosso

The concerto grosso form developed in the late seventeenth century, although the name was not used initially. Alessandro Stradella is believed to have written the first music in which two groups of different sizes are combined in the characteristic way. The name "concerto grosso" was first used by Giovanni Lorenzo Gregori in a set of ten compositions published in Lucca in 1698.

During the baroque era (c. 1600-1750), the concerto grosso flourished as a common type of orchestral music. It was often performed in secular court settings and had titles such as "concerto da chiesa" (church concerto) and "concerto da camera" (chamber concerto). However, these titles were also applied to works that did not strictly adhere to the concerto grosso form. The concerto grosso reached its peak with George Frideric Handel's Opus 6 collection in 1740. After that, it was gradually overshadowed by the solo concerto and the sinfonia concertante.

In the twentieth century, composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Henry Cowell revived the concerto grosso form, incorporating it into their compositions and giving it a new life.

Structure and Instruments

The concerto grosso is most notable for the contrast it presents between the small group of soloists (concertino) and the accompanying full orchestra (ripieno). The concertino typically consists of a trio sonata, which includes two violins and one continuo instrument (such as a cello) along with a harmony instrument.

The concerto grosso form typically consists of multiple movements, with each movement having its own distinct musical ideas and themes. The movements often follow the fast-slow-fast pattern, but composers had flexibility in structuring the movements according to their artistic vision.

Conclusion

In summary, a concerto grosso is a form of baroque music characterized by the contrast between a small group of soloists (concertino) and the full orchestra (ripieno). The musical material is passed between these two groups, creating a dynamic interplay. The concerto grosso form reached its peak during the baroque era but was later overshadowed by the solo concerto. However, it was revived in the twentieth century by composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Henry Cowell. The concerto grosso typically consists of multiple movements and features a trio sonata as the concertino .