The word concerto first appeared in a music print title in 1587. This Italian term meant accord or gathering and derived from the Latin verb concertare, which indicated a competition or battle.
Giovanni Gabrieli composed sacred works like In Ecclesiis that exemplified this early form of vocal music where voices and instruments interacted with independent parts. Heinrich Schütz wrote Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich to demonstrate how instruments could accompany voices without merely doubling them.
Ludwig van Beethoven composed only one violin concerto that remained obscure until violin virtuoso Joseph Joachim performed it on the 27th of May 1844. The first movements of Classical period concertos followed sonata form while final movements often used rondo form.
Antonio Vivaldi published collections including L'estro armonico, La stravaganza, Six Violin Concertos Op. 6, Twelve Concertos Op. 7, Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione, Six Flute Concertos Op. 10, Six Concertos Op. 11, and Six Violin Concertos Op. 12. These works established the standard three-movement structure that would dominate for centuries.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky left fragmentary sketches of a projected Cello Concerto that cellist Yuriy Leonovich and researcher Brett Langston completed in 2006. Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote four piano concertos between 1891 and 1926 with the Second and Third becoming among the most famous works in the repertoire.