What is the difference between a Baroque concerto and the concerto grosso?
Penelope Carter
Updated on June 01, 2026
Unlike a solo concerto where a single solo instrument plays the melody line and is accompanied by the orchestra, in a concerto grosso, a small group of soloists passes the melody between themselves and the orchestra or a small ensemble. Concerti grossi were very common in the Baroque era (1600-1750).
What are the characteristics of the concerto grosso?
The concerto grosso is a sub-genre of concerto that follows all of the characteristics of the concerto in general (it is multi-movement, written for an instrumental ensemble, and subdivides that ensemble into two sub-groups) but specifically utilizes multiple soloists rather than a single one.
What are the characteristics of Baroque concerto?
It originated in the Baroque Period (c. 1600–1750) as an alternative to the traditional concertino (solo group of instruments) in a concerto grosso. A typical concerto has three movements, traditionally fast, slow and lyrical, and fast. There are many examples of concertos that do not conform to this plan.
What is concerto grosso example?
For example, two of seven solo harpsichord concerti come from Bach’s own solo violin concerti, and the concerto for four harpsichords comes from Vivaldi’s Opus 3, No. 10, for four violins. These concerti, like the Brandenburg Concerto No.
Who is the most famous composer of the Baroque period?
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
What is the function of concerto grosso?
The concerto grosso (pronounced [konˈtʃɛrto ˈɡrɔsso]; Italian for big concert(o), plural concerti grossi [konˈtʃɛrti ˈɡrɔssi]) is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists (the concertino) and full orchestra (the ripieno, tutti or concerto grosso).
What’s the meaning of concerto grosso?
concerto grosso, plural concerti grossi, common type of orchestral music of the Baroque era (c. 1600–c. 1750), characterized by contrast between a small group of soloists (soli, concertino, principale) and the full orchestra (tutti, concerto grosso, ripieno).
Who are 2 of the most famous composers from the Baroque period?
Telemann was probably the most prolific composer in musical history. He wrote almost as much as Bach and Handel put together (and each of them wrote a perplexing amount) including 600 French overtures or orchestral suites, 200 concertos, 40 operas and more than 1000 pieces of church music.
What is the most distinctive feature of the concerto grosso?
The concerto grosso is probably the most important type of baroque concerto, characterized by the use of a small group of solo instruments, called “concertino” or “principale”, against the full orchestra, called “concerto”, “tutti” or “ripieni.” The concertino usually consists of two violins and continuo (the same …