A symphony often has 3 to 4 movements. The beginning is moderately fast, the next section is slow followed by a minuet and then a very fast conclusion. Symphonies had its roots from Baroque sinfonias but composers like Haydn (known as "The Father of the Symphony") and Beethoven (whose popular work includes the "Ninth Symphony") further developed and influenced this music form. Let's get to know more composers behind some of the greatest symphonies ever written.
1. Ludwig van Beethoven
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
Beethoven's father, Johann, taught him how to play the piano and organ. It is believed that Beethoven was briefly taught by Mozart in 1787 and Haydn in 1792. Among his famous works are Symphony No. 3 Eroica, op. 55 - E flat Major, Symphony No. 5, op. 67 - c minor and Symphony No. 9, op. 125 - d minor.Symphony No. 1, C Major, Opus 21 Symphony No. 2, D Major, Opus 36 Symphony No. 3, E-flat Major, Opus 55, "Eroica" Symphony No. 4, B-flat Major, Opus 60 Symphony No. 5, C minor, Opus 67 Symphony No. 6, F Major, Opus 68, "Pastoral" Symphony No. 7, A Major, Opus 92 Symphony No. 8, F Major, Opus 93 Symphony No. 9, D minor, Opus 125, "Choral"
Selected Symphonies:
2. Johannes Brahms
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
At age 7 he learned how to play the piano under the instruction of Otto Friedrich Willibald Cossel and later on under Eduard Marxen. Brahms became friends with the Schumanns and admired the works of Beethoven and Schubert. He wrote piano sonatas, songs, serenades, motets, vocal works, concertos and symphonies, among others.Symphony No. 1, C minor, Opus 68 Symphony No. 2, D Major, Opus 73 Symphony No. 3, F Major, Opus 90 Symphony No. 4, E minor, Opus 98
Selected Symphonies:
3. Aaron Copland
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
Premier American composer, conductor, writer and teacher who helped bring American music to the forefront. His older sister taught him how to play the piano. Before he became a well-known composer, Copland worked at a resort in Pennsylvania as a pianist. Some of his well-known works are "Piano Concerto," "Piano Variations," "Billy the Kid" and "Rodeo."Symphony No. 3
Selected Symphony:
4. Franz Joseph Haydn
Public Domian Portrait (Source: www.vanslageren.nl)
Haydn is known as "The Father of the Symphony" because he wrote over 100 symphonies. His work also includes arias, cantatas, concertos, chamber music, operas, oratorios, overtures, piano sonatas, string quartets, songs and serenades.Symphony No. 22, E-flat Major, "The Philosopher" Symphony No. 31, D Major, "Horn Signal" Symphony No. 45, F-sharp Major, "Farewell" Symphony No. 48, C Major, "Maria Theresia" Symphony No. 60, C Major, "Il distratto" Symphony No. 82, C Major, "L'Ours" Symphony No. 92, G Major, "Oxford" Symphony No. 94, G Major, "Surprise Symphony" Symphony No. 96, D Major< "The Miracle" Symphony No. 100, G Major, "Military" Symphony No. 101, D Major, "The Clock" Symphony No. 103, E-flat Major, "Drumroll"
Selected Symphonies:
5. Franz Liszt
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
Hungarian composer and piano virtuoso of the Romantic period. Franz Liszt' father taught him how to play the piano. He would later on study under Carl Czerny, an Austrian teacher and pianist. Among Liszt' famous works are "Transcendental Etudes," "Hungarian Rhapsodies" and "Sonata in B minor.""A Faust Symphony"
Selected Symphony:
6. Felix Mendelssohn
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
Prolific composer of the Romantic period; Mendelssohn was a piano and violin virtuoso. His piano teacher was Ludwig Berger. Some of his most notable compositions are "A Midsummer Night's Dream Opus 21," "Italian Symphony" and "Wedding March."Symphony No.3, A minor, Opus 56, "Scotch" Symphony No. 4, A Major, Opus 90, "Italian" Symphony No. 5, A minor, Opus 107, "Reformation"
Selected Symphonies:
7. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
At the age of 5, Mozart already wrote a miniature allegro (K. 1b) and andante (K. 1a). Among his famous works are "Symphony No. 35 Haffner, K. 385 - D Major," "Così fan tutte, K. 588" and "Requiem Mass, K. 626 - d minor." He wrote concertos, opera, oratorios, quartets, symphonies and chamber, vocal and choral music. He wrote over 600 compositions.Symphony No. 25, G minor, K. 183 Symphony No. 29, A Major, K. 201 Symphony No. 31, D Major, K. 297 Symphony No. 34, C Major, K. 338 Symphony No. 35, D Major, K. 385, "Haffner" Symphony No. 36, C Major, K. 424, "Linz" Symphony No. 38, D Major, K. 504, "Prague" Symphony No. 39, E flat Major, K. 543 Symphony No. 40, G minor, K. 550 Symphony No. 41, C Major, K. 551, "Jupiter"
Selected Symphonies:
8. Sergei Rachmaninoff
Photo from the Library of Congress
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff was a Russian piano virtuoso and composer. Under the advice of his cousin, a concert pianist by the name of Aleksandr Siloti, Sergey was sent to study under Nikolay Zverev. Some of Rachmaninoff's most famous works are "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini," "Symphony No. 2 in E Minor," "Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor" and "Symphonic Dances."Symphony No. 2, E minor, Opus 27
Selected Symphony:
9. Camille Saint-Saëns
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
Camille Saint-Saëns wrote symphonies, piano and violin concertos, suites, opera and tone poem, among others. His works include "The Swan - Le Cygne," (from Carnival of the Animals) "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso," "Symphony No 3 in C minor," "Samson and Delilah" (an opera) and "Dance Macabre."Symphony No. 3, C minor, Opus 78
Selected Symphony:
10. Franz Schubert
Public Domain Image from Wikimedia Commons
Franz Schubert is referred to as the "master of song." He wrote more than 200 songs. He studied counterpoint, keyboard playing and singing under Michael Holzen. Schubert wrote hundreds of musical pieces, some of his well known works are: "Serenade," "Ave Maria," "Who is Sylvia?" and "C Major Symphony."Symphony No. 4, C minor, "Tragic" Symphony No. 5, B-flat Major Symphony No. 6, C Major, Opus 140 Symphony No. 7, C Major Symphony No. 8, B minor, "Unfinished" Symphony No. 9, C Major
Selected Symphonies
