“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.
"Polish Flowers"
for: Soloist (tenor), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1479719
"Reformation Symphony"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 476480
Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 299986
Schicksalssymphonie
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 668869
zu einer Applausus Kantate
Erstdruck
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 142101
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 580949
(Military)
Studien-Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 770862
"Symphonie der Tausend"
Mahler - Gesamtausgabe 8
Nach dem Text der Kritischen Gesamtausgabe. Herausgegeben von der Internationalen Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft, Wien
for: Solists, boys’ choir, mixed choir, orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 577389
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 486579
(Urtext)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 610960
Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 181759
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 486847
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 420554
Based on the Critical Complete Edition of the Complete Works, published by International Gustav Mahler Society, Vienna
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 113102
"Trauersinfonie"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391756
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 689794
Based on the Critical Complete Edition, published by International Gustav Mahler Society, Vienna
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 576354
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781432
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661309
From the New World
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 198767
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 217458
Urtextausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 631691
Petr Il'ic Cajkovskij – New Edition of Complete Works 39c
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 297113
From the beginnings to 1945. A preliminary survey
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 662803
Revised Edition 1981
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 128674
Bärenreiter Urtext
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 335916
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 766478
Alto Solo from the 3rd Symphony
for: Voice (alto), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 161586
First versions
EMB New Liszt Edition Supplement 'A'
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 851049
"La Poule"
Urtext of the Haydn Complete Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 460612
for: 2 Violins, viola, oboe, horn
Music score
Item no.: 769815
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 325962
A Symphony-Cantata after Texts from the Holy Scriptures
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 695978
"Eroica"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 682882
A Symphony-Cantata after Texts from the Holy Scriptures
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 695976
for: Voice (soprano), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 927695
for: Chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 499773
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book
Item no.: 223904
Studien zur Wertungsforschung 52/ 2011
Book
Item no.: 604817
Symphony-Cantata
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 159564
A guide to the development of the symphony through the 18th and 19th centuries
for: Instrument [voice]
Book
Item no.: 1192864
Sinfonie-Kantate für drei Solostimmen (SST), gemischten Chor (SSAATB) und Orchester
!
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SSAATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score
Item no.: 210810
A Symphony-Cantata after Texts from the Holy Scriptures
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 695979
The Nineteenth-Century American Symphonic Enterprise
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 873671
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 768961
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256753
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 303609
"Pastorale"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 1677972
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