Concertino

As Printed on a Score

Printed as the label over the soloists’ staves in a concerto grosso (Concertino, or a part named del concertino), as against the ripieno; also printed as the title of a short concerto. As a label it holds for the whole work.

How Composers Use It

In Corelli’s and Handel’s concerti grossi the concertino is usually two violins and cello, playing throughout while the ripieno joins in the tutti passages. As a title, Concertino promises a compact concerto, often in one movement — Weber’s Clarinet Concertino is a well-known example. Use the title for a lighter scale, not as a mere synonym for concerto.

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