concertino

Concertino is a term from Italian meaning "small concert" and refers to the group of soloists within a concerto grosso, or, in some contexts, to the solo instrument featured within a larger orchestra. The opposing group is the ripieno (or tutti), the full ensemble that accompanies the concertino.

In Baroque practice, the concertino provides the foreground texture against the ripieno’s accompaniment. The size and makeup of the concertino varied, but it is commonly a small group of solo instruments—often two violins with continuo (a harpsichord or organ continuo with bass instrument). Other combinations, such as a flute with violin and continuo or occasional three or four soloists, also appear in the repertoire. The concertino’s material tends to be more virtuosic and distinct in color and texture from the ripieno sections.

Formally, a concerto grosso alternates between concertino passages and ripieno sections, and the interplay between the two groups defines the texture and dramatic contrast. While the term is most closely associated with 17th- and early 18th-century Italian Baroque composers—such as Corelli, Handel, and Vivaldi—its usage is largely historical and scholarly today. In some discussions, concertino can specifically denote a single solo instrument within a concerto grosso framework.

Today, the concept remains central to discussions of the concerto grosso tradition and is encountered mainly in period performance and musicology. The concertino’s role is to provide the focal point of virtuosity and color against the broader ripieno.

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