concerto

Where does the word "concerto" come from? It comes from Latin concertare, passing through Italian before entering English (1700s).

Concerto’s story begins in Latin: concertare meant “to agree, or to contend.” Meaning "to bring into agreement" or possibly "to contend". By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Italian as concerto. Named a musical work featuring a soloist against an orchestra. It reached English by 1700s as concerto. Corelli and Vivaldi established the form; Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' (1725) are violin concertos. Today, concerto means a musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient concertare "to agree, or to contend", meaning "to bring into agreement" or possibly "to contend".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1600s concerto "a work for soloist and orchestra", named a musical work featuring a soloist against an orchestra.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s concerto "a musical composition for a soloist and orchestra", Corelli and Vivaldi established the form; Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' (1725) are violin concertos.