“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
Study score, CD
Item no.: 560214
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1135450
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 490493
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 351789
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 216549
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755381
Orchestral parts (strings 10.9.8.7.6 + wind set)
for: 2 voices (Alt [Bariton], Tenor), orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1552066
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 745489
Urtext from the new Complete Edition (G. Henle Verlag)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 696028
JSW – Complete Works – Series I (Orchestral works) 2
edited by the National Library of Finland and the Sibelius Society of Finland
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 487165
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 695244
Final Version 1906
Linen Cover
for: Soloist (alto), boys' choir, women's choir, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 781351
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 156813
String Symphony MWV N 4
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: String orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 187141
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 432647
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 134157
String Symphony MWV N 1
Urtext based on the Leipzig Mendelssohn Complete Edition
for: String orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 295240
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1715778
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1198873
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 655341
for: 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings
Score
Item no.: 281629
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 372122
"Grand Symphony in C major"
Urtext-Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 683311
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 182639
"Spring Symphony"
Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 183448
“From the New World”
Revised new edition of score and orchestral parts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 377932
for: Piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1670087
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 555909
for: Brass ensemble (10 parts), organ, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1043367
for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, 2 Violins, Viola, Violoncello & Double Bass
First Edition
for: Chamber ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 1657022
'In the Alps'
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 207368
for: Flöten (2), Klavier
Piano reduction, solo parts
Item no.: 242652
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1008803
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 303235
Wilhelm Furtwängler – Gesamtausgabe I.Ia
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 169292
"Laudon"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1026724
"Laudon"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1340555
Edición crítica
for: Baroque orchestra
Item no.: 766975
"Pariser Nr. 6"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391745
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1016058
"Feuer"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391810
"Londoner"Hob. I:104
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 329496
"Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe"
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 796435
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1669885
"Prager"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 566236
"Londoner Nr. 8"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 554677
D 759
for: Orchestra
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 603847
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 476035
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