Changes

During this period, the concerto underwent a massive shift in form and focus. The double exposition of classical concerti fell by the wayside, and many (such as Mendelssohn's violin concerto) bring in the soloist at the very beginning. In addition, the form tended more and more to the symphonic, although the virtuosity of the solo part continued to increase as well. This is perhaps best exemplified by the growth of the cadenza.  

During this period, the concerto underwent a massive shift in form and focus. The double exposition of classical concerti fell by the wayside, and many (such as Mendelssohn's violin concerto) bring in the soloist at the very beginning. In addition, the form tended more and more to the symphonic, although the virtuosity of the solo part continued to increase as well. This is perhaps best exemplified by the growth of the cadenza.  

Composers begin writing their own, multi-page cadenza, allowing it to serve a functional purpose in the music. Often times, composers would work with whoever commissioned the concerto when writing the cadenza, either to compose to their individual playing styles or to determine what was practical and what was not. The great Romantic concerti - examples of which are [[Antonin Dvorak]]'s [[Cello]] Concerto; [[Felix Mendelssohn]], [[Johannes Brahms]] and [[Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Violin]] Concerti - feature elaborate cadenzas which only the most advanced musicians can attempt to play due to their virtuosity.

Composers begin writing their own, multi-page cadenza, allowing it to serve a functional purpose in the music. Often times, composers would work with whoever commissioned the concerto when writing the cadenza, either to compose to their individual playing styles or to determine what was practical and what was not. The great Romantic concerti - examples of which are [[Antonin Dvorak]]'s [[Cello]] Concerto; [[Felix Mendelssohn]], [[Brahms]] and [[Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Violin]] Concertos - feature elaborate cadenzas which only the most advanced musicians can attempt to play due to their virtuosity.

===The Concerto today===

===The Concerto today===

Today, the concerto lives as one of the most often-performed styles of music. Many musicians still re-record the same concerti that have been recorded for nearly eight decades, although a practice of composing an individual, unique cadenza has become popular, particularly with violinists such as Joshua Bell. Many of the classical concerti have become standard solos for music students: nearly every Horn player, for example, has learned the Mozart works at some point.

Today, the concerto lives as one of the most often-performed styles of music. Many musicians still re-record the same concerti that have been recorded for nearly eight decades, although a practice of composing an individual, unique cadenza has become popular, particularly with violinists such as Joshua Bell. Many of the classical concertos have become standard solos for music students: nearly every Horn player, for example, has learned the Mozart works at some point.

[[Category:Musical forms]]

[[Category:Musical forms]]