Solo concerto facts for kids

A solo concerto is a special type of concerto (say "kon-CHAIR-toh"). It features one main musician, called a soloist, who plays along with a whole orchestra. This exciting musical style started a long time ago, during the Baroque period. It has stayed popular with many composers ever since!

Most solo concertos have three main parts, called movements. The first and last movements are usually fast and full of energy. In between, there's a slower, more gentle second movement.

History of the Solo Concerto

Early Beginnings

One of the first composers to write solo concertos was Giuseppe Torelli. He wrote his in 1698. However, Vivaldi is often given credit for making the three-movement shape (fast-slow-fast) the most common way to write these pieces.

At first, most solo concertos were written for the violin. But then, Handel came along and wrote many solo concertos for different instruments.

Classical Period Concertos

During the Classical period, composers really loved solo concertos. They made the solo parts even more challenging and impressive for the musicians to play. Many of the most famous works by Beethoven and Mozart are solo concertos.

Romantic Era Developments

The early Romantic period also saw many solo concertos. Composers like Mendelssohn wrote pieces that were quite similar to those from the Classical era.

However, as the Romantic period continued, the solo parts became incredibly difficult. Only the most amazing players could perform them! The music also became richer and more complex. This was helped by the fact that orchestras often grew much larger during this time.

20th Century and Beyond

Music in the 20th century continued the grand traditions of the Romantic era. But later, a style called "neoclassic" appeared. This meant composers started writing solo concertos again that sounded more like the older, classical style.