The Baroque Solo Concerto

The Baroque Solo Concerto

Definition and Features

  • A Baroque Solo Concerto is a musical composition where one or more solo instruments are featured and contrasted against an orchestra.
  • This genre flourished in the Baroque period (approx. 1600-1750).
  • They are typically structured in three movements – fast, slow, fast.

Key Composers

  • Prominent composers of the Baroque Solo Concerto include Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Arcangelo Corelli.
  • Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is one of the most famous examples of the Baroque Solo Concerto.

The Role of the Soloist

  • The soloist’s role is to display their virtuosity and musicality against the backdrop of the orchestra.
  • Often, the soloist was expected to improvise during certain parts of the concerto, especially during the cadenzas.

Structure and Form

  • The typical form for fast movements of concertos from the Baroque period is ritornello form.
  • The term ritornello refers to the main theme, played by the orchestra, which returns in different keys throughout the movement.
  • Between statements of the ritornello, the soloist performs virtuosic passages known as episodes.
  • Slow movements are often more loosely structured, with greater emphasis on emotive, lyrical playing from the soloist.

Relationship between Soloist and Orchestra

  • In the Baroque Solo Concerto, the relationship between the soloist and orchestra is characterised by contrast and interchange, often called the tutti-solo-tutti structure.
  • The tutti sections usually introduce and conclude the movement, setting the tone and the key of the music.
  • The solo sections offer the soloist opportunity to present innovative musical ideas and display their technical skills.

Concerto Grosso

  • It’s important to distinguish the Baroque Solo Concerto from the Concerto Grosso.
  • In a Concerto Grosso, a group of solo instruments (concertino) is contrasted with the full orchestra (ripieno).
  • The Concerto Grosso was another common form of concerto in the Baroque era; examples include Corelli’s Concerti Grossi, Op. 6.