Classical Instrumental Works for Orchestra

One of Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky's (1840-1893) more joyful compositions, this Symphony No. 2 was highly regarded and successful from its premiere, which took place on February 7, 1873. Despite this in...

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) composed his SYMPHONY No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104 between 1918 and 1923, a period marked by political upheaval in Finland following its independence from Russia and by the comp...

MANON, written by Jules Massenet (1842-1912) was composed in 1883 and premiered the following year on January 19 at the Opéra-Comique. It tells the story of a young woman who, despite being a good per...

In 1843, Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) composed the well-loved and technically challenging POLONAISE in A-flat Major, Op. 53. Its subtitle "Heroic" has its origin in a letter by George Sand in which she...

In 1843, Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) composed the well-loved and technically challenging POLONAISE in A-flat Major, Op. 53. Its subtitle "Heroic" has its origin in a letter by George Sand in which she...

The Romanian composer Georges Enescu (1881-1955) spent his career in Paris, but much of his music bears the unmistakable influence of his native folk music. His SUITE D'ORCHESTRE, Op. 9, (Suite No. 1)...

The Romanian composer Georges Enescu (1881-1955) spent his career in Paris, but much of his music bears the unmistakable influence of his native folk music. His SUITE D'ORCHESTRE, Op. 9, (Suite No. 1)...

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) wrote Barbe-bleue (Bluebeard, Eng.; Blaubart, Ger.) while travelling in 1865. An opéra bouffe in three acts, with a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy ba...

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) composed Overture on Jewish Themes (or Overture on Hebrew Themes), Op. 34, in 1919 for the uncommon combination of clarinet, string quartet, and piano, and this original v...

Johannes Brahms' (1833-1897) Op. 117 consists of three short intermezzi originally written for piano in 1892. Each of the intermezzi is slow and meditative. Intermezzo No. 1 is a lullaby, and this orc...

Johannes Brahms' (1833-1897) Op. 117 consists of three short intermezzi originally written for piano in 1892. Each of the intermezzi is slow and meditative. Intermezzo No. 1 is a lullaby, and this orc...

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) composed the Symphonic Variations in E minor only two years prior to the completion of the Enigma Variations by his well-known student, Edward Elgar. It premi...

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) composed the Symphonic Variations in E minor only two years prior to the completion of the Enigma Variations by his well-known student, Edward Elgar. It premi...

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) had originally intended for Images pour orchestre to be a sequel to the first set of Images for solo piano. However, around 1905, he had decided to orchestrate the compositi...

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) had originally intended for Images pour orchestre to be a sequel to the first set of Images for solo piano. However, around 1905, he had decided to orchestrate the compositi...

One of three Leroy Anderson works depicting horses (the other two being "Sleigh Ride" and "Home Stretch"), this American Pops classic in it's original scoring is part of the Anderson Classics Series b...

Morton Gould (1913-1996), equally comfortable in the worlds of both "serious" and "light" music, presented his symphonettes (an Americanization of the term "sinfonietta," much like kitchenette and din...

Morton Gould, equally comfortable in the worlds of both "serious" and "light" music, presented his symphonettes (an Americanization of the term "sinfonietta," much like kitchenette and dinette) as wor...

Morton Gould, equally comfortable in the worlds of both "serious" and "light" music, presented his symphonettes (an Americanization of the term "sinfonietta," much like kitchenette and dinette) as wor...

Dark Eyes is a well-known Russian romance song. The lyrics, written by Ukrainian poet Yevhen Hrebinka, were first published in 1843. The melody, to which the lyrics are set is by German-Polish compose...

Dark Eyes is a well-known Russian romance song. The lyrics, written by Ukrainian poet Yevhen Hrebinka, were first published in 1843. The melody, to which the lyrics are set is by German-Polish compose...

The Guaracha is the Third Movement from Mr. Gould's fourth Symphonette, LATIN AMERICAN SYMPHONETTE, which is in four movements - Rhumba, Tango, Guaracha, and Conga.  The Guaracha, relatively spea...

Leroy Anderson completed four works in 1953: "Song of the Bells," "Summer Skies," "The Girl in Satin," and "Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra." He commisioned a modern home for himself and his fam...

Leroy Anderson completed four works in 1953: "Song of the Bells," "Summer Skies," "The Girl in Satin," and "Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra." He commisioned a modern home for himself and his fam...

Programme Note from original publication - This work was first played in America by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in June, 1910, and was the result of a commission from Mr. Carl Stoeckel, to who...