Concerto grosso facts for kids
A Concerto Grosso is a special type of music that was very popular in the 18th century, especially during the Baroque period. In a concerto grosso, you hear two main groups of instruments playing together. There's a small group of soloists, and a larger group that plays with them.
These two groups often play in contrast to each other. Sometimes they play together, sometimes one group plays alone, or they might even copy each other's musical ideas. The small group of soloists is called the "concertino." The larger group is known as the "tutti," "ripieno," or sometimes even "concerto grosso" (just like the piece itself!). The name "concerto grosso" comes from Italian and means "big concerto." The plural form is "concerti grossi."
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What is a Concerto Grosso?
A concerto grosso usually has several parts, called "movements." These movements are different in how fast they are and what kind of mood they create. Most concerti grossi have three movements:
- The first movement is usually fast and exciting. It often shows off the contrast between the soloists and the full orchestra.
- The second movement is typically slow and quiet, creating a calm or thoughtful mood.
- The last movement is fast and lively, often ending the piece with a burst of energy.
Who Wrote Concerti Grossi?
The composer who really made the concerto grosso famous was the Italian musician Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). In his concerti grossi, the small group of soloists (the concertino) usually included two violins and one cello. Another famous composer, George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), also used this same combination of instruments for his concerti grossi.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote a famous collection of six concertos known as the Brandenburg Concertos. Many of these are examples of concerti grossi. Each one uses a different mix of instruments for its solo group. For example, the second Brandenburg Concerto features a concertino of four instruments: a trumpet, a violin, a recorder, and an oboe. This shows how composers could be creative with the instrument groups.
The Concerto Grosso Today
After the Baroque period, composers became more interested in the solo concerto, where just one instrument plays against the orchestra. So, fewer concerti grossi were written for a while.
However, in the 20th century, some composers brought the idea back! Musicians like Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) and Bela Bartok (1881-1945) wrote new pieces that were similar to the old concerti grossi, using groups of instruments in a contrasting way.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Concerto grosso para niños
