“A symphony is no joke.” Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
And he’s not wrong! A symphony is a large-scale, mostly multi-movement cyclical form, that is mainly composed for a large instrumental ensemble, a Symphony Orchestra. The symphony is without a doubt one of the highest forms of instrumental music, and can be found among the works of the greatest composers from the 18th century onwards. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all the wonderful symphonies on offer today!
The word symphony is derived from the Greek expression “sym-fónós”, the harmony of several tones at the same time. The father of the symphony is without a doubt Joseph Haydn, who composed a total of 104 symphonies. Mozart then took up the baton, and Beethoven added more and more instruments to enrich the texture. In the classical period, a symphony is usually a four-movement work that uses sonata form in the outer movements. The middle movements are usually made up of a slow movement and a dance movement, a minuet or scherzo.
Over time, new elements began to be introduced to the symphony. The first major development came with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. With the Ode to Joy Beethoven introduces the choir and soloists to the symphony for the first time. In the romantic period, the formal structure of the symphony gradually loosens, the number of movements changes, and the instrumentation is expanded. One of the high points in the development of the symphony, as it moves into the classical modern period, is the large and complex symphonic works of Gustav Mahler, whose symphonies can include several hundred players and singers.
In contemporary music of the 20th and 21st centuries, various drum and electronic instrument ensembles began to appear in the symphony, such as in the works of Philip Glass. In principle, there are no set rules for modern symphonies, and it is up to the composer which approach to composition he chooses to employ.
"Pastorale"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753243
"London No. 11"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 737494
"London No. 7"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736795
"Italian"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758143
"Haffner"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758376
"Unfinished"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758186
"Scottish"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 726062
in einem Satz
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 748379
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736796
"The Philosopher"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749199
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755381
Edition Schott
for: Streichorchester, 2 Oboen und 2 Hörner
Score
Item no.: 739373
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755956
"Spring Symphony"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736304
Salomo (London)
for: Orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 743864
"La Passione"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 744703
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749190
"Prague"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758477
"Paris No. 6"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749196
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749174
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736730
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1384435
op. 52
for: Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 760209
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753244
"The Titan"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758644
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 737502
Music Of Our Time
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 748244
Music Of Our Time
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 726482
op. 58
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 732151
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 738534
Military Symphony
for: Orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 750603
Lambacher
for: Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 746768
(früher Nr. 2)
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 738694
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753250
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749201
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749204
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Viola da gamba (Viola, Violoncello), Streichorchester (Bläser ad lib) und Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 744426
"Tragic"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 737058
"London No. 6"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749185
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749188
"Choral"
for: 4 Solostimmen, gemischter Chor und Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 735962
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 736421
Transcription by Idil Biret (2017)
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 760157
"The Great"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758187
G major
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749203
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755880
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 753215
"London No. 8"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755975
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