“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.
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 185570
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 236601
for: BLECH ENSEMBLE SCHLAGZ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 551246
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1112634
"Jupiter"
1
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 444916
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 297829
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
Study Score 752
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 564841
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 556963
Mahler 8
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 336581
Eine musikalische Ambivalenz
Taschenbücher zur Musikwissenschaft 122
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 397028
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391778
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391774
"Pariser Nr. 4"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391652
Mahlers "Vierte Symphonie" und ihre Interpretation um die Jahrtausendwende
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 773297
"Londoner Nr. 12"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 445214
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749201
Oper und symphonischer Stil 1800–1850. Von E.T.A.Hoffmann zu Richard Wagner
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 475668
Beethovens 5. Sinfonie auf Tonträger
Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der musikalischen Interpretation im Zeitalter ihrer technischen Reproduzierbarkeit
Book (Hardcover), CD
Item no.: 632611
for: Chamber orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 361946
Hob. I:37
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 459110
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344844
Kikapust Choral Series
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 148335
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1202104
Hob. I:61
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 395120
KV 200
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 395101
for: für Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 365019
KV 550
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 214324
La Roxelane in due versioneHob. I:63
for: für Orchester
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 336612
1. Fassung 1872
Anton Bruckner Gesamtausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 431036
for: für Klavier
Item no.: 275094
A tone poem in the form of a symphony in two parts and five movements
for: Symphonic orchestra
Conductor score
Item no.: 776843
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 686584
Symphony 1, New Day Rising, Mvt. II
Oversized, spiral-bound score
Opus III Wind Orchestra Publications
for: Concert band
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1066625
The Early Symphonies
Diletto Musicale – Doblinger's Classical Music Series
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 291735
"Pariser" - mit alternierendem 2. Satz
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391753
Sinfonie-Kantate für drei Solostimmen (SST), gemischten Chor (SSAATB) und Orchester
for: 3 soloists (SST), mixed choir (SSAATB), orchestra, organ
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 615191
for: Youth symphony orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 677834
'In Summertime'
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 477364
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 472112
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116941
Urtext of the Joseph Haydn Complete Edition
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 686616
"Tragic"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 737058
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score, CD
Item no.: 445133
für Orgel und Orchester Stimmensatz (Streicher 8-6-4-3-2)
for: Organ, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 627538
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 489242
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196743
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 391621
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 278904
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