“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.
Book
Item no.: 604817
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SSAATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score
Item no.: 210810
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 768961
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 873671
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256753
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 303609
for: Voice (soprano), concert band
Score
Item no.: 927374
for: 2 solo voices (SBar), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 341326
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 621415
for: Symphonic orchestra
9 Study scores, 9 CDs
Item no.: 768269
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SSAATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction (XL format, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 681541
Recent Researches in the Music of the Classical Era 18
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (anthology)
Item no.: 686821
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 768952
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256751
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 325340
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 557154
Book
Item no.: 771078
5th movement: Es sungen drei Engel einen süßen Gesang
for: Soloist (alto), women's choir, boys' choir, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 746268
for: Soloist (soprano), narrator, mixed choir (SATB), boys' choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 458271
for: Symphonic orchestra
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 336587
for: gemischter Chor (SATB) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 655826
for: Piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1670088
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1689338
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 768835
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1345262
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 550743
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 559073
für Blasorchester
Partitur und Stimmen
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 114794
Satz I + II
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1022053
for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, 2 Violins, Viola, Violoncello and Double Bass
first print
for: Chamber ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 1652755
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
Study Score 4114
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1343925
für Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 207369
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 555902
Begriff, Wesen und Entwicklung vom Ensemble- zum Orchstersatz
Collection d'études musicologiques/ Sammlung musikwissenschaftlicher Arbeiten 56
Book
Item no.: 122438
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Item no.: 244387
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 622192
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1654156
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
Study Score 1819
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344100
Ein musikalischer Werkführer
C.H.Beck Wissen
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 472238
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
Study Score 1230
The Phillip Brookes Collection
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1345235
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer 276
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 261847
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 478871
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
Study Score 248
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 209729
Transcribed for piano duet by the composer
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 694906
Symphony 1, New Day Rising, Mvt. I
Opus III Wind Orchestra Publications
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1010296
"Pathetique"op. 74
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 124664
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344345
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 278425