Principal orchestral music of the Baroque era, characterized by contrast between a small group of soloists and a larger orchestra.
The small group (concertino) usually consisted of two violins and continuo , the instruments of the older trio sonata , though wind instruments were also used. The larger group (ripieno) generally consisted of strings with continuo. Alessandro Stradella (164282) wrote the first known concerto grosso 0441; 1675. Arcangelo Corelli 's set of 12 ( 0441; 168090), Johann Sebastian Bach 's Brandenburg Concertos ( 0441; 1720), and George Frideric Handel 's Opus 6 concertos ( 0441; 1740) are the most celebrated examples. From 1750 the concerto grosso was eclipsed by the solo concerto .