What Are a Concerto and a Concertino?

The origin of the word concerto has been interpreted in different ways. One interpretation connects its Latin roots with contest or rivalry, while another emphasises different voices sounding together in unity.

By the late seventeenth century, the concerto was emerging as an independent form and becoming a favoured vehicle for virtuoso performers. It creates a dialogue between soloist and orchestra, bringing their different voices together. Some definitions also include two or more solo instruments with an orchestra. A violin concerto is an orchestral work with a prominent solo violin part requiring considerable technical skill. It commonly has three movements, sometimes four, with sonata form often used in the first movement. A concertino shares the concerto’s main features on a smaller scale: in other words, a small concerto.

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Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher