“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.
Sinfonie-Kantate für drei Solostimmen (SST), gemischten Chor (SSAATB) und Orchester
Klavierauszug XL im Großdruck
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SSAATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction (XL format, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 681541
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
for: 2 solo voices (SBar), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 176271
for: school orchestra
Book
Item no.: 327667
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1198873
Revised Edition 1981
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 128674
"La Poule"
Urtext of the Haydn Complete Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 460612
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 557154
Symphonies de Beethoven Nos. 5-7
EMB New Listz Edition II. 'B'
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 197488
Eine Bestandsaufnahme
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 325962
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 325340
Book
Item no.: 771078
Recent Researches in the Music of the Classical Era 17
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (anthology)
Item no.: 208206
Cambridge Music Handbooks
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 771154
Cambridge Music Handbooks
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 980086
A Study in Musical Semiotics
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 979979
Analysis, Reception and Cultural Politics
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 980428
From the beginnings to 1945. A preliminary survey
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 662803
Sinfonien 1 und 2 mit kritischem Bericht
Beethoven Gesamtausgabe Abteilung I Band 1
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 303609
The Nineteenth-Century American Symphonic Enterprise
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 873671
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 870705
G-Dur KV 45a
for: Chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 499773
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 768952
A guide to the development of the symphony through the 18th and 19th centuries
for: Instrument [voice]
Book
Item no.: 1192864
for: Symphonic orchestra
9 Study scores, 9 CDs
Item no.: 768269
for: 2 Violins, viola, oboe, horn
Music score
Item no.: 769815
Studien zur Wertungsforschung 52/ 2011
Book
Item no.: 604817
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 766478
First versions
EMB New Listz Edition Supplement 'A'
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 851049
Cambridge Music Handbooks
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 771157
Essays from the Eulenburg Scores
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book
Item no.: 223904
Studies in Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation
Boek (softcover)
Item no.: 768961
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 683416
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 676387
1. Satz bearbeitet
for: Organ 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 684516
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
9 scores (Urtext Edition)
Item no.: 584025
for Saxophone Ensemble (SAAATTBar)
for: Saxophone ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 679941
Eine Tondichtung in Symphonieform in zwei Teilen und fünf Sätzen
Neue Kritische Gesamtausgabe Supplement 5
Erstveröffentlichung der Fassung aus dem Jahr 1888
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685893
textcritical edition of the final version 1910
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685909
für Orgel
organum Band 9
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 682039
für großes Orchester und türkische Instrumente
Musik unserer Zeit
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 679615
Chinesische Lieder
for Baritone and Orchestra
Study Score
for: Voice (baritone), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 680950
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679916
for: Organ [harmonium]
Music score
Item no.: 682159
Lieder der Vergänglichkeit für drei Soli (SMezBar), gemischten Chor (SATB) und Orchester
Musik unserer Zeit
for: 3 soloists (SMezBar), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 681910
Studien-Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 682804
for Low Flute Choir
Music for Low Flutes – The Bottom Line Series
for: Flute ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 682805
Studien-Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 682806
2nd Movement
Symphonic String Orchestra
for: Youth string orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 679294
für Orchester
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 682823
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