“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.
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1689338
Sinfonik des 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1654965
Linz' Symphony
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1681482
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1689957
Comprehensive preface and critical report in German and English included
Anton Bruckner New Complete Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (hardcover, with musicological analysis)
Item no.: 1670066
Anton Bruckner New Complete Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1659530
Babi Yar
for: Soloist (bass), male choir (TTBB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1681473
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1689910
for: Chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1678037
from Symphony No. 3 in F-Major, Op. 90
for: Concert band
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1678374
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1689964
Leningrad
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1680966
Sinfonik des 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657587
für Orgel bearbeitet
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1670101
Linz' Symphony
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1681472
(Sinfonie C-Dur)
Der Sturm auf die Bastille
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657595
Studien zu seinen früheren Werke
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1677750
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1681436
Sinfonik des 19. Jahrhunderts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657588
Linz' Symphony
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681488
Sinfonik des 19. Jahrhunderts
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1657590
Linz' Symphony
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681484
Linz' Symphony
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681489
Ergänzungsstimme
for: 2 voices (Alt [Bariton], Tenor), orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1552075
Der 1. Mai
for: Choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1680952
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681441
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681442
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681450
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