The Baroque Concerto

     Concerto Grosso (pl. concerti grossi)  -  Arcangelo Corelli, c. 1680s 

           Has multiple soloists (usually 2 violins and a cello); 2 c) the "concerti" and a larger 
           orchestra, the "ripieno." 

           Has two movement formats: 
 
                 "concerto da chiesa" -  4 movements in slow→fast→slow→fast order.

                 "concerto da camera" -  multiple movements of French dances; most often used: 
                         an allemande, a courante, a Sarabande, a gigue, a gavotte, a minuet (menuetto)


     "Venetian" Concerto (pl. concerti)  -  Antonio Vivaldi, c. 1710 - 1725 


           Has a single soloist with an orchestra.

           Has three movements in fast→slow→fast order.


 George Frideric Handel:

       Concerti Grossi Opus 3 (6 concerti) (publ. 1735)  &  Opus 6 (12 concerti)  (pub. 1736)

              Handel took Corelli's basic concerto da chiesa or concerto da camera formats 
              but often mixed the movements of the two into one concerto (e.g. Opus 6, 
              No. 9:  I.  Largo – II.  Allegro – III.  Larghetto – IV.  Allegro – V.  Menuet – 
              VI.  Gigue).  He would also use other formats like arias and fugues.


Johann Sebastian Bach:

       Brandenburg Concertos  (6 concerti grossi)  (written before 1721)   

               Five of the six concertos are in Vivaldi's three movement fast→slow→fast order.  

               Like Corelli, he uses multiple soloists, but instead of just two violins and a cello, 

               Bach uses a combination of violin, viola, viol da gamba, cello, flute, recorder, 

               harpsichord, oboe, bassoon or trumpet depending on the concerto.  

       Other Concerti

               Bach wrote concertos for one to four violins and for one to four harpsichords (his 

               seven concertos for one harpsichord are considered forerunners of the Classical era 

               piano concerto).  He also wrote one "triple concerto" for flute, violin, harpsichord with 

               orchestra.  

              All of these concertos are in Vivaldi's three movement fast→slow→fast order. 

Georg Philipp Telemann:

         Telemann wrote concertos for single soloists and multiple soloists for numerous wind and

         string instruments instruments, but not keyboards.  They were either in the four movement

         concerto da chiesa or Vivaldi's three movement style. 


After the Baroque Era:

         Starting in the Classical era into the 20th century, concertos are almost always in the three 

         movement fast→slow→fast order.  The fast majority aree for one soloist and orchestra, 

         although concertos for two or three soloists, especially two pianos, with orchestra were 

         somewhat numerous.