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

• concerto grossos
  plural
• concerti grossi
  plural

Etymology

Origin of concerto grosso

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

Example Sentences

Naturally more of a showcase for the players, though, was Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, a beloved reimagining of the Baroque concerto grosso for the 20th century.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

From there, variations surface with nods to Classical and Baroque forms: a dancerly minuet or rondo, a concerto grosso of angular strings, a wandering ricercare.

From New York Times • May 25, 2023

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

From The Guardian • Apr. 30, 2010

Scored in Bach's concerto grosso style for flute, oboe and trumpet solo plus strings, it smacks more of Stravinsky than Bach, has a sensuous eeriness typical of some of Barber's later works.

From Time Magazine Archive

The pieces in which Corelli developed this light-and- shade technique came to be known by the name of the larger group, concerto grosso, and subsequently the generic term ‘concerto’.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall