‖ concerto Mus.
(konˈtʃɛrto, kənˈtʃɛətəʊ, kənˈsɜːtəʊ)
[Ital.; the original word whence Fr. and Eng. concert.]
A composition for one, or sometimes more, solo instruments accompanied by orchestra; now almost always in three movements. (Formerly applied more widely to various compositions for a number of instruments.)
| 1730 A. Malcolm Treat. Musick 416 A Concerto, Sonata, or Cantata. 1766 Entick London IV. 447 Several..songs are performed, with sonatas or concertos between each. 1845 E. Holmes Mozart 253 He kept closely within the..limit and signification of the term concerto, as a piece of combination for instruments, with a principal part for one. 1880 Prout in Grove Dict. Mus. s.v., The example of Beethoven in his E♭ concerto led..to the disuse of the..cadenza. |