concerto grosso

American  

[kuhn-cher-toh groh-soh, kawn-cher-taw graws-saw] / kənˈtʃɛr toʊ ˈgroʊ soʊ, kɔnˈtʃɛr tɔ ˈgrɔs sɔ /

noun

concerti grossi, plural concerto grossos plural

1. a musical form, common in the Baroque period, in which contrasting sections are played by full orchestra and by a small group of soloists.

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concerto grosso British  

/ ˈɡrɒsəʊ /

noun

1. a composition for an orchestra and a group of soloists, chiefly of the baroque period

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• concerti grossi
  plural
• concerto grossos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of concerto grosso

1715–25; < Italian: literally, big concert; see gross

Example Sentences

In the early 1970s, Mr. Coleman began writing a concerto grosso called “Skies of America,”eventually recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1972.

From New York Times • Jun. 11, 2015

Roscoe Mitchell rearranged a trio version of his often-revisited “Nonaah” into an engaging concerto grosso, but again some of the playing sounded tentative.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2010

The range and complexity of Manguel's sympathies and readings is extensive and baroque; a concerto grosso.

From The Guardian • Apr. 30, 2010

The symphony of its day, the concerto grosso contrasted a massed orchestra with a smaller group of solo instruments�here beautifully played by Violinists Daniel Guilet, Edwin Bachmann and Cellist Frank Miller.

From Time Magazine Archive

Corelli’s typical concerto grosso was divided into three sections of contrasting speeds - slow-fast-slow or fast-slow-fast - after the fashion of the earlier consort suites or setts.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall