Solo Concerto
The solo concerto, along with the concerto
grosso, were the final instrumental contributions of the Baroque period.
These two forms differed only in that the solo concerto used a single instrument
as soloist, and the concerto grosso used a group of soloists. Three
movements are most frequently employed: first, an allegro; then a
slow movement in a closely related key; and finally, a shorter fast movement
in the original key. Soloists and orchestra may be given different
themes, but usually all of the thematic material is presented by the full
group and then developed by the soloist or soloists in turn. The
solo concerto and the concerto grosso were at times designed to display
the technical virtuosity of the soloists. As well, they offered the
Baroque composer the possibility of combining the concertato ideas, the
polarity of bass and treble melody, the concept of clear major-minor tonality,
and the use of a number of separate movements into a single idealized instrumental
form.
(see also Concerto)