concerto grosso

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

/ kənˈtʃɛr toʊ ˈgroʊ soʊ; Italian kɔnˈtʃɛr tɔ ˈgrɔs sɔ /

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noun, plural con·cer·ti gros·si

[kuhn-cher-tee groh-see; Italian kawn-cher-tee graws-see], /kənˈtʃɛr ti ˈgroʊ si; Italian kɔnˈtʃɛr ti ˈgrɔs si/, con·cer·to gros·sos.

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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Origin of concerto grosso

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

Words nearby concerto grosso

concertino, concertize, concertmaster, concertmistress, concerto, concerto grosso, concert overture, concert party, concert pitch, concertstück, concert tuning

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use concerto grosso in a sentence

Back to the concerto, or a little light Plato, or some such.
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By law, Brunello must be made from 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso grapes.
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Union President Joseph Del Grosso said he is open to buyouts if the offer is sweet enough.
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His first great piano concerto is widely considered to be the No. 9, Jeunehomme, written at age 21.
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His speeches have the elegance and control of a Haydn concerto.
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Going back, Liszt indulged in a little graceful badinage apropos of the concerto.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Frulein Fichtner was the young lady who was going to play his concerto in A major at the concert that evening.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The concerto made a generally dazzling and difficult impression upon me, but did not "take hold" of me particularly.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Frulein Fichtner had already departed, but the first violinist played Mendelssohn's famous concerto for violin.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Then, child, you've fallen on your head, if you don't know that at least you must have a second copy of the concerto!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

British Dictionary definitions for concerto grosso

concerto grosso

/ (ˈɡrɒsəʊ) /

noun plural concerti grossi (ˈɡrɒsɪ) or concerto grossos

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

Word Origin for concerto grosso

Italian, literally: big concerto

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012