The ConcertoSince the Baroque era, the concerto has played an essential role in the world of music. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, a concerto is “a composition for one or more soloists and orchestra with three contrasting movements.” There are two main types: the concerto grosso and the classical concerto; both will be discussed later. Although the term concerto is relatively easy to understand in context, when used the term becomes more complicated to define. The basic elements that make up a concerto include three movements, one of which is usually dedicated to a solo instrument such as the piano or violin. with orchestral accompaniment. Since the late 18th century, the first movement is most likely in sonata form while the second movement is in ternary form. The third movement is round in shape. In the first movement in particular, there are usually three main parts. These components are classified according to the thematic and harmonic tonal materials defined in the exposition, elaborated in the development, and harmonically resolved in the recapitulation. Each part of the first movement plays an important role in the structure and progression of the piece. At the exposition stage, the dominant or secondary tone is stated along with the main theme. Following this step, a transition occurs and then the development phase begins. In this section, the themes stated in the exhibition are modified and sometimes juxtaposed to include a new theme. Another transition occurs and the recapitulation ends the first movement. At this point, the themes of the exposition are repeated in the tonic of the movement. The concerto grosso was a key player in the Baroque era. According to the...... middle of paper...... found in contemporary usages such as the piano concerto. In the 20th century in particular, Bartok's “Concerto for Orchestra” and Zwilich's “Concerto Grosso 1985” are pieces that have their origins in the concerto movement. It was a style that was used for both soloists and orchestra. Works Cited "Concerto - Definition and more from the free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Internet. March 10, 2011. "Concerto Grosso - Encyclopedia of the New World." Info: Main page - Encyclopedia of the New World. Internet. March 10, 2011. .Megill, Donald D., David W. Megill and Jeffrey Ainis. “Lesson eleven musical themes and developments, subjects 1 to 5”. Online music appreciation. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 2007. 101. Print.