Definition: Concerto grosso (Italian, meaning "large concert") originated during the Baroque period. Very similar to the concerto, which developed after and became more popular than the concerto grosso, the concerto grosso is characterized as having a small group of soloists performing in contrast to a full orchestra.
The use of the concerto grosso diminished during the classical period as the solo concerto was used instead. However, romantic and 20th century period composers revived the concerto grosso.
Popular Composers of the Concerto Grosso
- Arcangelo Corelli
- Francesco Geminiani
- Giuseppe Torelli
- Antonio Vivaldi
- Igor Stravinsky
- Henry Cowell
- Philip Glass
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
