Genre research project 6/1357: Concerto

Antonio Vivaldi - "La Primavera" (Le Quattro Stagioni: Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi)

Concertos are multi-movement Classical works for orchestra and one or more soloists. Concertos for solo instruments evolved in Baroque Music during the turn of the 18th century from the Concerti grossi, which include a small group of soloists called the "soli" set against a full orchestra referred to as the "tutti". Concertos intensified this distinction of part and whole, and seek to explore the relationships between individual and collective, between one and many. This remains the situation, therefore Concertos continue to be highly popular and have held a unique position in Orchestral writing in all periods including Modern Classical.

Concertos have been written for all sorts of instruments, however Concertos for pianos, violins and cellos have been the most popular.