What does concerti mean?
'Concerti' is the plural form of 'concerto', denoting musical compositions — usually in three movements — written for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra. The form emerged in Italy in the late seventeenth century, with composers such as Corelli, Vivaldi, and later Bach and Mozart establishing the genre as a cornerstone of Western classical music. In modern usage, speakers may choose between 'concerti', which preserves the word's Italian origin and is favored in formal or specialist contexts, and 'concertos', the fully anglicized plural that predominates in general writing. Both are correct. A typical sentence might read, 'Her recording of Brahms's piano concerti won widespread acclaim.' The word carries connotations of virtuosity and grandeur, since concerti are built around the dramatic interplay between a soloist's brilliance and the orchestra's collective power. For anyone writing about music, knowing both plurals signals familiarity with classical tradition.
nounThe plural of 'concerto': musical compositions, typically in three movements, for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra.
- Plural of concerto: multi-movement compositions for solo instrument(s) with orchestral accompaniment.
"Mozart's piano concerti remain staples of the orchestral repertoire."
"The orchestra opened its season with Beethoven's five piano concerti."
"Vivaldi wrote hundreds of violin concerti during his years at the Pietà."
'Concerti' follows Italian pluralization and is preferred in classical music circles; 'concertos' is the common English plural. The singular is always 'concerto'.
"She has recorded all twenty-seven of Mozart's piano concerti."
English gives you a choice: 'concertos' or the Italian-flavored 'concerti' — and classical musicians often insist on the latter, keeping the word as Italian as the music itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concerti
'Concerti' is borrowed directly from Italian, where it is the regular plural of 'concerto'. The Italian noun derives from the Latin verb 'concertere', meaning to strive together or contend, formed from 'con-' (together) plus a root related to contesting or joining. The word entered English in the early eighteenth century alongside the musical genre itself, which had developed in Baroque Italy. Related borrowings from the same Latin root include 'concert', 'concertina', and 'concertante'.
Related word forms
How concerti is actually used
'Concerti' is the Italianate plural and is especially common in formal musicological writing and among classical musicians; 'concertos' is an equally standard English plural and is more common in everyday usage. The anglicized plural 'concertoes' is rare and generally avoided.
Easily confused with concerti
'Concerto' is the singular form referring to one composition, while 'concerti' is the Italian-style plural referring to two or more such works.