concerto da chiesa

The concerto da chiesa was a type of orchestral music from the Baroque era (c. 1600–c. 1750) that was characterized by the contrast between a small group of soloists (the concertino) and the full orchestra (the tutti or concerto grosso). While the term concerto originally had broader meanings, including "agreement" or "competition," it evolved to describe this interplay between different musical forces.12

The concerto da chiesa, meaning "church concerto," was one of the performance locales that influenced early concerto grossi, alongside concerto da camera (chamber concerto). These works often featured a trio sonata instrumentation for the soloists, typically two violins and continuo, with the full orchestra providing a contrasting sound. Composers like Arcangelo Corelli were influential in developing this form, often structuring movements in a fast-slow-fast pattern. The concerto grosso eventually gave way to the solo concerto around 1750, though the form was revived in the 20th century.13