concerto grosso

[ kuhn-cher-toh groh-soh; Italian kawn-cher-taw graws-saw ]

noun

, plural con·cer·ti gros·si [k, uh, n-, cher, -tee , groh, -see, kawn-, cher, -tee , graws, -see], con·cer·to gros·sos.

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.

concerto grosso

/ ˈɡrɒsəʊ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of concerto grosso¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of concerto grosso¹

Italian, literally: big concerto