concertante

American  

[kon-ser-tahn-tee, kawn-cher-tahn-te] / ˌkɒn sərˈtɑn ti, ˌkɔn tʃɛrˈtɑn tɛ /

adjective

1. brilliantly virtuosic.

   a concertante part for solo violin.

2. solo rather than accompanying.

   a sonata for recorder and harpsichord concertante.

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noun

plural

concertanti

1. an 18th-century symphonic work with sections for solo instruments.

concertante British  

/ ˌkɒntʃəˈtæntɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by contrasting alternating tutti and solo passages

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noun

1. a composition characterized by such contrasts

Etymology

Origin of concertante

1720–30; < Italian, present participle of concertare to give a concert; see -ant

Example Sentences

It being a concertante, the Sinfonia was also an opportunity for the NSO to showcase a quartet of principal players — violinist Marissa Regni, cellist David Hardy, oboist Nicholas Stovall and bassoonist Sue Heineman.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2022

The program here was almost an insult to the players: a transcription of four popular Granados piano pieces, and three concertante works.

From Washington Post • Feb. 1, 2015

The playing is ravishing, though, and a couple of glamorous guest instrumentalists, James Ehnes and Robert deMaine, add real lustre to the concertante violin and cello solos respectively.

From The Guardian • Jan. 10, 2013

The last piece on the CD, “The Cry of Anubis,” is one of Mr. Birtwistle’s few concertante works.

From New York Times • May 25, 2011

With regard to the sinfonie concertante there appears to be a hitch, and I believe that some unseen mischief is at work.

From The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Volume 01 by Nohl, Ludwig