<P> A concerto (/ kənˈtʃɛərtoʊ /; plural concertos, or concerti from the Italian plural) is a musical composition usually composed in three movements, in which, usually, one solo instrument (for instance, a piano, violin, cello or flute) is accompanied by an orchestra or concert band . It is accepted that its characteristics and definition have changed over time . In the 17th century, sacred works for voices and orchestra were typically called concertos, as reflected by J.S. Bach's usage of the title "concerto" for many of the works that we know as cantatas . </P> <P> The word concerto comes from Italian; its etymology is uncertain, but it seems to originate from the conjunction of two Latin words: conserere (meaning to tie, to join, to weave) and certamen (competition, fight). The idea is that the two parts in a concerto--the soloist and the orchestra or concert band--alternate between episodes of opposition, cooperation, and independence to create a sense of flow . </P> <P> The concerto, as understood in this modern way, arose in the Baroque period, in parallel to the concerto grosso, which contrasted a small group of instruments called a concertino with the rest of the orchestra, called the ripieno . The popularity of the concerto grosso form declined after the Baroque period, and the genre was not revived until the 20th century . The solo concerto, however, has remained a vital musical force from its inception to this day . </P> <P> The term "concerto" was initially used to denote works that involved voices and instruments in which the instruments had independent parts--as opposed to the Renaissance common practice in which instruments that accompanied voices only doubled the voice parts . Examples of this earlier form of concerto include Giovanni Gabrieli's "In Ecclesiis" or Heinrich Schütz's "Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich". </P>

The origins of the concerto can be found in