“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.
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 303296
Die frühen Sinfonien
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305088
Diletto Musicale
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 304934
9. Londoner
Haydn-Mozart Presse
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 477164
Fassung 1890
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1022056
Mahler und die Symphonik des 19. Jahrhunderts in neuer Deutung
– überarbeitete und ergänzte Neuauflage in Vorbereitung –
Book
Item no.: 298424
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1016199
op. 21
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 301329
Item no.: 622223
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 400930
"Linzer"KV 425
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 395100
op. 36
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 395478
Sinfonie G-DurKV 45a
for: Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 281689
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
9 Study scores (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 283473
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 282538
Die frühen Sinfonien
Diletto musicale 248
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 282536
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 282533
instrumentiert von G. Judin
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 359011
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 358963
KV 183 (173dB)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 261256
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 272215
"Concertante"
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 207303
Symphony-Cantata
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 181775
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 157298
"Pariser Nr. 3"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391746
"Tragische"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391722
"Londoner Nr. 4"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391703
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 432959
(aus der Symphonie Nr. 5)
for: Harp, strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 430700
Ein musikalischer Werkführer
C.H.Beck Wissen 2211
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 289222
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 265844
for: 2 recorders, chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 372085
Eulenburg Audio + Score
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 445060
"Zur Herbstzeit"
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 366130
"TrauersymphonieHob. I:44
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 336601
Schüler im Konzert 8
Einführung in Hamburger Schülerkonzerte
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 340222
Die zehn Sinfonien
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 345003
(Sinfonie 9 e-moll op 95 aus der Neuen Welt)
for: 3 recorders (SAT)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 563277
Carl Loewe Edition Band 8
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1009411
op. 36
for: Orchestra
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 395115
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391631
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 663876
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1560822
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 188661
"Haffner"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 471774
Diletto Musicale
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305095
Finale
Highland/Etling First Philharmonic
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 686899
Beginning Band
for: Youth concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 690833
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