Music – Page 7 – Cosmic Reflections

Brahms – Symphony No. 1

If I had to pick a favorite symphony—and that would be difficult to do as I love so many—then it would have to be Symphony No. 1 by Johannes Brahms. Though he completed it in 1876 at the age of 43, he had been working on it for something like 21 years. He was a consummate perfectionist, and it shows.

The Madison Symphony Orchestra performed this extraordinary work this past weekend as the second half of a really fine program featuring Alban Gerhardt playing the Walton Cello Concerto, and Rossini’s Overture to Semiramide. We are so very fortunate to have an orchestra of this caliber in southern Wisconsin, and music director John DeMain is a treasure. I am a season subscriber, of course, and attend all the concerts except for the Christmas program in December.

I cannot get through a performance of the Brahms First Symphony without being moved to tears, and Sunday’s excellent performance by the MSO was no exception. The final section of the second movement (Andante sostenuto) features an incredibly beautiful violin solo, gorgeously played by concertmaster Naha Greenholtz. The fourth and final movement (Adagio — Più andante — Allegro non troppo, ma con brio — Più allegro) is pure ecstasy. Just when you think the symphony is drawing to a conclusion, it launches into another, even more remarkable, section. And that happens more than once. The modulating transition to the coda in measures 367-390 (about 15:42 to 16:24 into the movement, two minutes before the end) for me is one of the most exciting sections of the entire work.

I once asked my friend and accomplished horn player John Wunderlin—who is similarly deeply moved by orchestral music—how he keeps from choking up during the most moving passages he plays. “Fear of messing up” he said, half jokingly and half serious. Part of the discipline that any professional musician must have is maintaining composure during even the most moving and beautiful sections. I don’t think I could do it. But I did once see a teary-eyed violinist in the orchestra at the conclusion of a work. Want to know what that work was? It was the Symphony No. 1 by Johannes Brahms.

Shostakovich – Symphony No. 4

The Fourth Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was completed in May 1936, but had to be withdrawn before it was performed due to the withering criticism and scrutiny Shostakovich was at the time receiving from Joseph Stalin and his increasingly repressive government. This symphony did not receive its first public performance until 1961. To get a sense of the enormous difficulties Shostakovich had to endure under the Soviet regime—and the extraordinary music of one of the 20th century’s most gifted composers, and indeed the last great symphonist—I highly recommend Robert Greenberg’s eight-part video course, Great Masters: Shostakovich – His Life and Music.

The Fourth Symphony is certainly not one of Shostakovich’s more accessible works, but I want to draw your attention to the remarkable, ethereal conclusion of this symphony that few have ever heard.

My entire Shostakovich collection was lost in the Memorial Day weekend 2015 Houston flood, and I’m gradually trying to replace it. I am currently listening to all fifteen Shostakovich symphonies in an excellent box set, conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007). Rostropovich was a close friend of Shostakovich.

Here is the final 4^m45^s of the third and final movement (Largo — Allegro) of the Symphony No. 4 in C minor, op. 43, by Dmitri Shostakovich, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich. Turn up the volume—after the first couple of seconds, it is all very quiet. Enjoy!

Symphonies by Women

Last Updated: March 17, 2025

How many women have achieved the compositional milestone of writing a symphony for full orchestra? The answer is, quite a few! What follows is what I believe to be a comprehensive list of all symphonies written by women. If you know of others—or if you find anything here that needs correcting or adding to—please post a comment. So many of these works have been unjustly neglected. The day will come (hopefully soon) when any short list of the greatest composers will include women.

When I originally started this list back in 2017, I had in mind only including works explicitly with titles such as Symphony No. 1, Symphony No. 2, and so on. But I’ve since learned that what constitutes a “symphony” defies any rigid definition, particularly when considering 20th- and 21st-century works. So, I’ve capitulated to include anything named “symphony” or “sinfonia” by the composer. Still, if you find any works here that really shouldn’t be included here as symphonies, please post a comment and I will consider removing them.

Looking towards the future, one composer to watch will certainly be Alma Deutscher. Her first of what will hopefully be many symphonies is eagerly anticipated.

I’ve created a forum where you can post and listen to any available performances or recordings of works listed here (and in general) that are not yet (or currently) commercially available. I hope you will consider participating, and please do tell others about it. Composers are welcome to post their own work, too!

Classical Music Little-Known Favorites

Els Aarne (1917-1995)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Rosalina Abejo (1922-1991)
Gregoria Symphony (1950)
Pioneer Symphony (1954)
Thanatopsis Symphony (1956)
The Trilogy of Man Symphony (1971)
Guerilla Symphony (1972)
Dalawang Pusong Dakila [Two Great Hearts] Symphony (1975)
Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan, a choral symphony (1979)
Symphony No. 3, “Hold High the Torch” (1981)
Jubilee Symphony (1984)
Brotherhood Symphony (1986)
Symphony of Psalms (1988)
Symphony of Life (1988)
Symphony of Fortitude and Sudden Spring (1989)
Beatriz Symphony
Marian Symphony

Lejla Agolli (1950-)
Symphony in C♯ minor (1973)

Maria Theresia Ahlefeldt (1755-1810)
Symphony in F major

Anjelika Akbar (1969-)
Symphony No. 1 (1993)

Eleanor Alberga (1949-)
Symphony No. 1, “Strata” (2022)

Iryna Aleksiychuk (1967-)
Symphony for large symphony orchestra (1995)

Liana Alexandra (1947-2011)
Symphony No. 1, op. 1 (1971)
Symphony No. 2, op. 16, “Hymns” (1978)
Symphony No. 3, op. 24, “Diachronies-Harmonies” (1981)
Symphony No. 4, op. 28, “Contemporary Rhythms” (1984)
Symphony No. 5 (1986)
Symphony No. 6 (1989)
Symphony No. 7 (1996)
Symphony No. 8, “Variations” (2003)
Symphony No. 9, “Jerusalem” (2003)

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh (1947-)
Symphony (1976)

Julia Alonso (1889-1977)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Olga Alyushina (1975-)
Symphony

Maria Charlotte Amalie (1751-1827) [Duchess of Saxe-Gotha]
Symphony [for orchestra of 10 instruments]

Karen Amrhein (1970-)
Symphony of Seasons

Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929)
Symphony No. 1 in C major (1869)
Symphony No. 2 in A minor (1893)
Symphony in one movement, F minor
Organ Symphony No. 1 in B minor (1892)
Organ Symphony No. 2 in E♭ major for organ and brass (~1892)

Minni Kim-Huai Ang (1966-)
Symphony

Dina Appeldoorn (1884-1938)
Symphony No. 1, “May Symphony” (1915, rev. 1916 & 1925)
Symphony No. 2, “Wie in lauter Helligkeit” (1916)
North Sea Symphony (1924)

Adelaide Orsola Appignani (1807-1884)
Sinfonia (1834)

Kimberly Archer (1973-)
Symphony No. 1, “For Those Taken Too Soon” (for concert band) (2001)
Symphony No. 2 (for concert band) (2003)
Symphony No. 3 (for concert band) (2008)

Violet Archer (1913-2000)
Symphony (1946)
Sinfonia (1969)

Reiko Arima (1933-)
Symphony No. 1, “Okinawa”

Claude Arrieu [Louise-Marie Simon] (1903-1990)
Symphony in C major (1940)

Francine Aubin (1938-2016)
Symphony No. 1, “Allégorique”
Symphony No. 2, “de l’Espoir”
Symphony No. 3, “Kiev” (1991)
Symphony No. 4, “Juive” (2010) – orchestration of the work of Lionel Stoléru

Lera Auerbach (1973-)
Symphony No. 1, “Chimera” (2006)
Symphony No. 2, “Requiem for a Poet” (2006)
Symphony No. 3, “The Infant Minstrel and His Peculiar Menagerie” (2016)
Symphony No. 4, “Arctica” (2019)
Symphony No. 5, “Paradise Lost” (2022)
Symphony No. 6, “Vessels of Light” (2022)
String Symphony No. 1, “Memoria de la Luz” (2013)
String Symphony No. 2, “Night: Darkness of Light” (2024)

Elizabeth Austin (1938-)
Symphony No. 1, “Wilderness Symphony” (1987)
Symphony No. 2, “Lighthouse” (1993)

Ana-Maria Avram (1961-2017)
Symphony

Pikə Axundova (1984-)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Svitlana Azarova (1976-)
Symphony No. 1 (1999)
Symphony No. 2, “Lana Sweet” (2003)
Symphony “Hundred Thirty One Angstrom” (2014)

Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
Symphony No. 1 (1945)
Symphony No. 2 (1951)
Symphony No. 3 (1952)
Symphony No. 4 (1953)
Symphony (1933, lost)
Symphony (1938, lost)
Symphony for string orchestra (1946)

Maya Badian (1945-)
Holocaust—In Memoriam, Symphony (1987, 1998)

Judith Bailey (1941-)
Symphony No. 1, op. 21 (1981)
Symphony No. 2, op. 24 (1982)
Cliff Walk Symphony, op. 82 (2007)

Teresa Bancer (1935-2018)
Symphony

Mansi Barberis (1899-1986)
Symphony No. 1 (1941)

Laura Wilson Barker (1819-1905)
Symphony (1845)

Elsa Barraine (1910-1999)
Symphony No. 1 (1931)
Symphony No. 2 (1938)
Symphony No. 3 (1947)

Rasa Bartkevičiūtė (1967-)
Symphony No. 1, “In perpetuum” (1993)
Symphony No. 2, “Fantasy” (1995)
Symphony No. 3, “El Dorado” (1997)
Symphony No. 4, “Rhapsody” (2001)

Marion Bauer (1882-1955)
Symphony No. 1, op. 45 (1947-50)

Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Symphony in E minor, op. 32,”Gaelic” (1894-6)

Sally Beamish (1956-)
Symphony No. 1 (1992)
Symphony No. 2 (1998)

Marguerite Béclard d’Harcourt (1884-1964)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2, “The Seasons” (1951)

Anđelka Bego-Šimunić (1941-2022)
Symphony No. 1 (1966)

Elizabeth Bell (1928-2016)
Symphony No. 1 (1971; 1988)

Ivane Bellocq (1958-)
Symphonie déconcertante (1997)

Marie Barker Nelson Bennett (1926-2018)
Symphony No. 1, “The Medead” (1977)
Symphony No. 2, “Hodeeyaada” (1994)
Symphony No. 3, “Symphony of the Millenium” (2000)
Symphony No. 4, “Universe” (1998)

Louise Bertin (1805-1877)
5 chamber symphonies, unpublished

Diane Bish (1941-)
A Symphony of Hymns (1983)
A Symphony of Psalms, for organ, choir, orchestra and soloist (1989)

Sylvie Bodorová (1954-)
Symphony No 1, “Con le campane” (2011)

Natasha Bogojevich (1966-)
Symphony No. 1 (1991)

Mélanie Bonis (1858-1937)
Burlesque Symphony, op. 185 posth., for percussion, wind instruments, and piano

Henriette van den Boorn-Coclet (1866-1945)
Symphony in F major (1904)
Symphony Wallone in D major (1923)

Johanna Bordewijk-Roepman (1892-1971)
Symphony No. 1 (1942)

Victoria Borisova-Ollas (1969-)
Symphony No. 1, “The Triumph of Heaven” (2001)
Symphony No. 2, “Labyrinths of Time” (2017)

Marianna Bottini (1802-1858)
Symphony for orchestra (1818)
Symphony for wind band (1819)

Clarisse Bourdeney (1848-1898)
Symphony No. 1 in C major, op. 15 (1908)
Symphony No. 2 in D minor, op. 40 (1910)

Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Symphony No. 1, “Glencree” (1927)
Symphony No. 2, “The Dream of the Rood” (1930)
Symphony No. 3, “From the Darkness” (1951)

Margaret Brandman (1951-)
Firestorm Symphony (2009)

Ilona Breģe (1959-)
Symphony No. 1 (2004)
Symphony No. 2 (2006)
Symphony No. 3 (2010)

Radie Britain (1899-1994)
Southern Symphony (1935)
Cosmic Mist Symphony (1962)

Margaret Brouwer (1940-)
Symphony No. 1, “Lake Voices” (1997)

Tamar-kali Brown (1973?-)
Sea Island Symphony (2023)

Elisabetta Brusa (1954-)
Nittemero Symphony (1988)
Symphony No. 1, op. 10 (1990)
Symphony No. 2, op. 22 (2015)
Symphony No. 3, op. 27 (2022)

Joanna Bruzdowicz (1943-2021)
Symphony No. 1 (1975)
Symphony No. 2 “Concertino for Orchestra” (2007)

Nini Bulterijs (1929-1989)
Symphony (1965)

Diana Burrell (1948-)
Symphonies of Flocks, Herds and Shoals (1996)

Santa Bušs (1981-)
Liminarité, chamber symphony (2014)

Anne Lois Butler (1912-2006)
Symphony of the Hills

Sofía Cancino de Cuevas (1897-1982)
Symphony No. 1 (1935)
Symphony No. 2 in G major

Matilde Capuis (1913-2017)
Symphony in G minor

Ann Carr-Boyd (1938-)
Symphony in three movements (1964)

Teresa Carreño (1853-1917)
Chamber Symphony for Strings

Wendy Mae Chambers (1953-)
Symphony of the Universe (1989)

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Les Amazones, symphonie dramatique, op. 26 (1884)

Elizabeth Charles (?-?)
Little Symphony (1941)
[student composition, Institute of American Music of the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York; active 1938-1942]

Chen Yi (1953-)
Symphony No. 1 (1986)
Symphony No. 2 (1993)
Symphony No. 3 (2002)
Symphony No. 4, “Humen 1839” (2009)

Geghuni Chitchyan (1929-)
Chamber Symphony, “In Memoriam Aram Khachaturian” (1988)

Françoise Choveaux (1953-)
Symphony Indigo, op. 2 (1993)
Symphony Blanche, op. 100 (2001)

Tatyana Chudova (1944-2021)
Symphony No. 1 in A♭, “Timur and his Team” (1982)
Symphony No. 2, “How the Steel was Tempered” (1983)
Symphony No. 3, “The Young Guard” (1984)
Symphony No. 4 (1988)

Iulia Cibișescu-Duran (1966-)
Symphony No. 1 (1990)
Symphony No. 2 (2017)

Maia Ciobanu (1952-)
Symphony No. 1, “Journal ’88” (1988)
Symphony No. 2, “…from Enescu” (2006)

Adrienne Clostre (1921-2006)
Symphony for Strings (1949; 1962)

Gloria Coates (1933-2023)
Symphony No. 1, “Music on Open Strings” (1973)
Symphony No. 2, “Illuminatio in Tenebris” (1974; 1989)
Symphony No. 3, “Symphony for Strings/Symphony Nocturne” (1978)
Symphony No. 3 (Version 2), “Holographic Universe”, with violin solo (2006)
Symphony No. 4, “Chiaroscuro” (1984; 1990)
Symphony No. 5, “Drei mystische Gesänge” (1985)
Symphony No. 6, “Music in Microtones” (1987; 1994)
Symphony No. 7 (1990)
Symphony No. 8, “Indian Sounds” (1991)
Symphony No. 9, “Homage to Van Gogh” (1994)
Symphony No. 10, “Drones of Druids on Celtic Ruins” (1994)
Symphony No. 11, “Philomen and Baucis” (1998)
Symphony No. 12 (1998)
Symphony No. 13 (2000)
Symphony No. 14, “The Americans” (2002)
Symphony No. 15, “Homage to Mozart” (2005)
Symphony No. 16, “Time Frozen” (1993)
Symphony No. 17, “Fonte di Rimini” (2017)

Jane Antonia Cornish (1975-)
Symphony No. 1 (2008)

Jean Coulthard (1908-2000)
Symphony No. 1 (1953)
Symphony No. 2, “Choral Symphony, This Land” (1967)
Symphony No. 3, “Lyric” (1975)
Symphony No. 4, “Autumn”, for string orchestra (1984)

Vicki Lynn Curry (1949?-)
Symphony in two movements (1988)

Nancy Dalberg (1881-1949)
Symphony in C♯ minor (1917) [3 movements; later withdrew 1st movement and To orkesterstykker, op. 9 (1918) remained]

Jean Reynolds Davis (1927-2015)
Symphony No. 1, in one movement
Symphony No. 2

Yvonne Desportes (1907-1993)
Symphony No. 1, “Saint-Gindolph” (1958)
Symphony No. 2, “Monorythmie” (1964)
Symphony No. 3, “L’Éternel féminin” (1969)

Arline Diamond (1928-1985)
Symphony

Mary Dickenson-Auner (1880-1965)
Symphony No. 1, “Irish Symphony”, op. 16 (1941)
Symphony No. 2 (1948) [withdrawn]
Symphony No. 3, op. 41 (1953)
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5, “American”, op. 45 (1957)
Symphony for String Orchestra, op. 33 (1950)

Emma Lou Diemer (1927-)
Symphony No. 1 (1953)
Symphony No. 2 (1955, 1959) [on Amerindian themes]
Symphony No. 3, “Antique” (1961)

Johanna Doderer (1969-)
Symphony No. 1 (2007)
Symphony No. 2,”Bohinj” (2015)

Narcisa Donátová (1928-1981)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Sanja Drakulić (1963-)
Symphony 1991

Marjorie Eastwood Dudley (1891-1961)
Symphony in E♭ major, op. 12 (1938)

Janet Dunbar (1952-)
Symphony of the Woods (2008)

Lesia Dychko (1939-)
“Greeting for Life”, symphony for soprano, bass and chamber orchestra (1972)
“Wind of Revolution”, symphony (1976)
“You Begin from Your Eyes”, symphony-cantata (1994)

Sophie Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté (1899-1974)
Symphony No. 1 in C major, E. 104 (1940)
Symphony No. 2, “Manitoba” (1970)

Ludmilla Efimtsova (1948-)
Symphony No. 1 (1980s)

Maija Einfelde (1939-)
Choral Symphony (2000)
Symphony (2003)

Michelle Ekizian (1956-)
Symphony No. 1, “When Light Divided” (1994)

Irina Elcheva (1926-2013)
Symphony, “In memory of those killed in the siege of Leningrad” (1965)

Olga Pozzi Escot (1933-)
Symphony No. 1, for strings (1953) [withdrawn]
Symphony No. 2 (1955) [withdrawn]
Symphony No. 3 (1957) [withdrawn]
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5, “Sands” (1965)
Symphony No. 6

Elisenda Fábregas (1955-)
Symphony No. 1 for Symphonic Band (2013)

Amanda Lee Falkenberg (1976-)
The Moons Symphony (2019)

Eibhlis Farrell (1953-)
Sinfonia (1990)

Louise Farrenc (1804-1875)
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 32 (1842)
Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 35 (1845)
Symphony No. 3 in G minor, op. 36 (1847)

Lorraine Noel Finley (1899-1972)
Symphony in D (1963)

Anfisa Fiodorova (1953-2000)
Symphony

Elena Firsova (1950-)
Sinfonia da camera (1972)

Elena Fiştic (1963-)
Symphony No. 1, “Haiducească” (1986)
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3 (2006)

Tsippi Fleischer (1946-)
Symphony No. 1, “Salt Crystals”, op. 33 (1995)
Symphony No. 2, “The Train”, op. 48 (1999)
Symphony No. 3, “Regarding Beauty”, op. 49 (1999)
Symphony No. 4, “A Passing Shadow”, op. 51 (2000)
Symphony No. 5, “Israeli-Jewish Collage”, op. 54 (2003)
Symphony No. 6, “The Eyes, Mirror of the Soul”, op. 73 (2011)
Symphony No. 7, “Choral Symphony”, op. 77 (2015)

Bohdana Frolyak (1968-)
Symphony No. 1, “Orbis Terrarum” (1998)
Symphony No. 2 (2009)

Ilse Fromm-Michaels (1888-1986)
Symphony in C minor, op. 19 (1938)

Linda Frumker (1940-)
Symphony (1964)

Rina Furano (1989-)
Symphony No. 1 in F major (2014)
Symphony No. 2 in C major (2016)

Varvara Adrianovna Gaigerova (1903-1944)
Symphony No. 1 (1928)
Symphony No. 2 on Kalmuk Themes (1934)
Symphony No. 3 (1936)

Nancy Galbraith (1951-)
Wind Symphony No. 1 (1996)

Rachel Galinne (1949-)
Symphony No. 1 (1996)
Symphony No. 2 (1998)
Chamber Symphony (2005)

Stacy Garrop (1969-)
Mythology Symphony (2013)

Miriam Gideon (1906-1996)
Symphonia Brevis (1953)

Ruth Gipps (1921-1999)
Symphony No. 1 in F minor, op. 22 (1942)
Symphony No. 2 in B major (in one movement), op. 30 (1945)
Symphony No. 3, op. 57 (1965)
Symphony No. 4, op. 61 (1972)
Symphony No. 5, op. 64 (1982)

Julie Giroux (1961-)
Symphony No. 1, “Culloden” (2000)
Symphony No. 2, “A Symphony of Fables” (2006)
Symphony No. 3, “No Finer Calling” (2006)
Symphony No. 4, “Bookmarks from Japan” (2013)
Symphony No. 5, “Elements” (2018)
Symphony No. 6, “The Blue Marble” (2022)
Space Symphony (1986; 1991)

Janice Giteck (1946-)
Potlatch Symphony (2013)

Peggy Glanville-Hicks (1912-1990)
Sinfonia da Pacifica (1953)

Julia Gomelskaya (1964-2016)
Symphony No. 1, “SymPhobia” (2004)
Symphony No. 2, “Ukraine Forever” (2010)
Symphony No. 3, “Magnet” (2014)
Symphony No. 4, “Ra-Aeternae” (2016)

Ida Gotkovsky (1933-)
Symphony for Strings and Percussion (1957)
Symphony for Eighty Wind Instruments (1960)
Spring Symphony (1973)
Symphony for Organ and Wind Orchestra (1982)
Brillante Symphony for Wind Orchestra (1989)
Golden Symphony (1991) [15 saxophones]
Youth Symphony (1993)
Joyeuse Symphony for Wind Orchestra (2000)

Elizabeth Davies Gould (1904-1995)
Mini-symphony w/introduction to instruments

Clémence de Grandval (1828-1907)
Symphony No. 1, “Le Matin”
Symphony No. 2, “Le Soir”
Symphony No. 3, “Amazones”
Callirhoé, ballet-symphony

Edith Greene (?-?) [England]
Symphony (1895)

Marina Gribinčika (1966-)
Symphony (1992)

Annie Grimson [later Wallis] (1870-1949)
Symphony (1887)— lost?

Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025)
Symphony (1958)
Stimmen… Verstummen…, a symphony in twelve movements (1986)

Louise Haenel de Cronenthall (1839-1896)
Symphony No. 1, op. 10 “La cinquantaine villageoise”
Symphony No. 2, op. 40 “Salut au printemps” (1860)
Symphony No. 3, op. 22? “La fantastique”
Symphony No. 4, “Apollonia”
Symphony No. 5, “Bonheur pastoral”

Margareta Hallin (1931-2020)
Sinfonia piccola, for chamber orchestra (2002)

Barbara Harbach (1946-)
Symphony No. 1, “Veneration for Orchestra” (2004)
Symphony No. 2, “One of Ours – A Cather Symphony” (2004)
Symphony No. 3, “A State Divided – a Missouri Symphony” (2012)
Symphony No. 4, “Jubilee Symphony” (2013)
Symphony No. 5, “Gateway Festival Symphony” (2013)
Symphony No. 6, “Night Soundings” (2013)
Symphony No. 7, “O Pioneers!” (2014)
Symphony No. 8, “The Scarlet Letter” (2014)
Symphony No. 9, “Celestial Symphony” (2014)
Symphony No. 10, “Symphony for Ferguson” (2015)
Symphony No. 11, “Retourner” (2017)

Rahilia Hasanova (1951-)
Symphony No. 1 (1976)
Symphony No. 2 (1977)
Symphony No. 3 (1983)

Irina Hasnaș (1954-)
Symphony No. 1 (1990)

Hanna Havrylets (1958-2022)
Symphony No. 1 (1989)
Symphony No. 2, “In memoriam”, chamber symphony (1995)

Bernice Hensler (?-?)
Symphony in three movements (1945)
[student composition, Institute of American Music of the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York; active 1940-1946]

Mirrie Hill (1889-1986)
Symphony in A, “Arnhem Land” (1954)

Dulcie Holland (1913-2000)
Symphony for pleasure (1971)

Elizabeth Holloway (?-?)
Symphony No. 1 (1954)
[listed in The American Symphony by Neil Butterworth]

Betzy Holmberg (1860-1900)
Symphony No. 1 (1884)

Augusta Holmès (1847-1903)
Symphony No. 1, “Orlando furioso”
Symphony No. 2, “Lutèce”
Symphony No. 3, “Les Argonautes”

Adelaide Hooker [Marquand] (1903-1963)
Symphony in E (1930)

Katherine Hoover (1937-2018)
Sinfonia, op. 10 (1976)

Aline Hundt (1849-1872)
Symphony in G minor

Aida Isakova (1940-2012)
Symphony with Timpani for String Orchestra

Šušano Ishakbajeva (1957-)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3

Jean Eichelberger Ivey (1923-2010)
Little Symphony
Festive Symphony
Symphony “Forms and Motion”
Short Symphony

Wang Jie (1980-)
Symphony No. 1 (2008)
Symphony No. 2 (2014)

Marta Jiráčková (1932-)
Symphony No. 1, “Nanda Devi”
Symphony No. 2, “Silbo”

Betsy Jolas (1926-)
Symphony for small orchestra

Milijana Jović (1950-)
Symphony for String Orchestra

Dalia Kairaitytė (1953-)
Symphony

Kikuko Kanai (1911-1986)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940)
Symphony in B minor, op. 4 (1905)

Elena Kats-Chernin (1957-)
Garden Symphony (2002)
River Symphony (2003)
Symphonia Eluvium (2011)

Minna Keal (1909-1999)
Symphony, op. 3 (1987)

Frida Kern (1891-1988)
Symphony No. 1, op. 46 (1943)

Merzie Khalitova (1956-)
Symphony No. 1, “Revival”
Symphony No. 2, for chamber orchestra
Symphony No. 3, “Dedication”
Symphony No. 4, for flute and string orchestra
Symphony No. 5, “Ametkhan”
Symphony No. 6, “Yashlyk sedasy”

Rusudan Khorava (1954)–
Chamber Symphony for string orchestra
Romantic Symphony for mezzo-soprano and orchestra

Makiko Kinoshita (1956-)
Sinfonia for brass

Antoinette Kirkwood (1930-2014)
Symphony No. 1, op. 8 (1953)

Zhivka Klinkova (1924-2002)
Symphony No. 1 (1963)
Symphony No. 2 (1974)
Football Symphony (1996)
Symphony “Hymn of Unified Europe” (1999)
Symphony in 7/8 Beat (2000)

Antonie Knoblochova (1905-?)
Symphony

Liudmila Knyazeva (1947-)
Symphony No. 1, “The Ascent”

Eloise Koelling (1908-1999)
Symphony in D minor (1956)

Luna Koen-Puđa (1919-2003)
Symphony (1966)

Celina Kohan de Scher (1931-2015)
Symphony No. 1 (1955)
Symphony No. 2 (1983)

Jitka Koželuhová (1966-)
Symphony (2008)

Ekaterina Kozhevnikova (1954-)
Symphony No. 1 (1977)
Symphony No. 2, “Sinfonia da Requiem” (1979)
Symphony No. 3 (2003; 2018)
Symphony No. 4, “Eros”

Agneta Krilova (1980-)
Symphony No. 1, “Polar Symphony”
Symphony No. 2 for Chamber Orchestra, “To the New World”

Grażyna Krzanowska (1952-)
Symphony with a Beat on the Timpani
A Little Choral Symphony

Mayako Kubo (1947-)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2, “Reopening”

Hanna Kulenty (1961-)
Symphony No. 1 (1986)
Symphony No. 2, for orchestra and mixed choir (1987)
Symphony No. 3 (2000)

Renata Kunkel (1954-)
Symphony (1983)

Ann Kuppens (1964-)
Sinfonia Bellicosa

Iryna Kyrylina (1953-2017)
Chamber Symphony, “Collapse”
Symphony

Eleni Lambiri (1889-1960)
Symphony in B minor

Libby Larsen (1950-)
Symphony No. 1, “Water Music”
Symphony No. 2, “Coming Forth Into Day”
Symphony No. 3, “Lyric”
Symphony No. 4, “String Symphony”
Symphony No.5, “Solo Symphony”
Symphony No. 6, “Forward”
Short Symphony, for Concert Band

Beatrice Laufer (1923-1996)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Elodie Lauten (1950-2014)
Symphony 2001 (2000)

Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927)
Symphony in F major, op. 41 (~1894)

Mary Weldon Leahy (1926-?)
Symphony in one movement
Symphony for strings

Linda Leimane (1989-)
Chamber Symphony, “Guesstimations”

Helvi Leiviskä (1902-1982)
Symphony [unnumbered] (1923)
Symphony No. 1 in B♭ major, op. 23 (1947)
Symphony No. 2 in D minor, op. 27 (1954)
Symphony No. 3, op. 31 (1964/1971)
Sinfonia brevis, op. 30 (1962/1972)

Sabra Lindgren (1947-)
Symphony No. 1 in D major (1998)
Symphony No. 2 in C minor (2008)
Symphony No. 3, “The Big Sky Symphony” (2009)
Symphony No. 4, for strings, percussion, and keyboard (2012)
Symphony No. 5 in F (2013)
Symphony No. 6 (2015)
Symphony No. 7 (2016)
Symphony No. 8, “A Western Symphony” (2016)
Symphony No. 9 (2016)
Symphony No. 10 (2018)
Symphony No. 11 (2019)
Symphony No. 12 (2019)
Symphony No. 13 (2020)
Symphony No. 14 (2020)
Symphony No. 15 (2022)
Symphony No. 16 (2024)
Symphony No. 17 (2024)
String Symphony No. 1 in A minor (2010)
String Symphony No. 2 (2015)
String Symphony No. 3 (2016)
String Symphony No. 4 (2019)
String Symphony No. 5 (2022)

Ivana Loudová (1941-2017)
Symphony No. 1 (1964)
Symphony No. 2 for alto solo, choir and large orchestra (1965)
Sinfonia Numerica for Chamber Orchestra (2006)

Phyllis Luckman (1927-)
Symphony for Massed Cellos (1977)

Enid Luff (1935-2022)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2, “Down” (1993)

Elisabeth Lutyens (1906-1983)
Symphonies, for solo piano, wind, harps and percussion

Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994)
Symphony No. 1 [withdrawn]
Symphony No. 2 [withdrawn]
Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1953)
Little Symphony

Ester Mägi (1922-2021)
Symphony (1968)

Nina Makarova (1908-1976)
Symphony in D minor (1938; 1962)

Ursula Mamlok (1923-2016)
Symphony No. 1 in E♭ (1956) [withdrawn]

Irina Manoukian (1948-2004)
Symphony No. 1 for string and percussion instruments
Symphony No. 2, “Ecce Homo”
Symphony No. 3, “Thirty-two variations on descending bass”

Myriam Marbe (1931-1997)
Symphony No. 1, “Ur Ariadne” for mezzo-soprano, saxophone, and orchestra
Sym-phonia for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble

Adabelle Gross Marcus (1929-1997)
Symphony to the Spheres

Tera de Marez Oyens (1932-1996)
Sinfonía testimonial: for choir, orchestra and tape
Squaw sachem symphony

Stephanie Martin (1962-)
Babel: a choral symphony

Maryna Marozava (1958-)
Symphony No. 1, “Black Tale”
Symphony No. 2, “At the Fair”
Symphony No. 3

Marianna Martines (1744-1812) [aka Marianne Martinez]
Symphony in C major

Paule Maurice (1910-1967)
Symphony

Emilie Mayer (1812-1883)
Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1847)
Symphony No. 2 in E minor (1847)
Symphony No. 3 in C major, “Military” (1850)
Symphony No. 4 in B minor (1851)
Symphony No. 5 in F minor (1852)
Symphony No. 6 in E major (1853)
Symphony No. 7 in F minor (1856)
Symphony No. 8 in F major (1857)

Missy Mazzoli (1980-)
Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) (2014; 2016)

Jenny McLeod (1941-)
Little Symphony

Cindy McTee (1953-)
Symphony No. 1: Ballet for Orchestra (2002)

Margaret Shelton Meier (1936-)
Claremont Symphony

Margarita Leonor Dietel Merriman (1927-)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Jelena Milenković-Živković (1944-)
Symphony

Zarrina Mirshakar (1947-)
Symphony No. 1 for strings

Darleen Cowles Mitchell (1942-)
Chamber Symphony [1965]

Ida Moberg (1859-1947)
Symphony in D minor (1905) [lost?]

Akiana Molina (1963-)
Sinfonía Herediana

Dorothy Rudd Moore (1940-2022)
Symphony No. 1 (1963)

Valarie Morris (1949-)
Symphony of light and shadows

Johanna Müller-Hermann (1878-1941)
Symphony in D minor, with soloists and chorus

Florentine Mulsant (1962-)
Symphony No. 1, for strings
Symphony No. 2, “Exile”

Gráinne Mulvey (1966-)
Symphony No. 1

Thea Musgrave (1928-)
Sinfonia

Onutė Narbutaitė (1956-)
Symphony No. 1 (1979)
Symphony No. 2 (2001)
Symphony No. 3, “Tres Dei Matris Symphoniae” (2004)
Symphony No. 4, “riverbank – river – symphony” (2007)
Sinfonia col triangolo, for chamber orchestra (1996)

Polina Nazaykinskaya (1987-)
Symphony No. 1, “April Song”

Dika Newlin (1923-2006)
Symphony for chorus and orchestra
Chamber Symphony for 12 instruments

Tatyana Nikolayeva (1924-1993)
Symphony (1955; 1958)

Katharine Norman (1960-)
Symphony

Anne-Marie Ørbeck (1911-1996)
Symphony in D major

Michiru Ōshima (1961-)
Symphony No. 1. “Orasho” (1980?)
Symphony No. 2, “Since 1945” (2015)

Eurydice Osterman (1950-)
Symphony No. 1, “Heritage Symphony”

Vivian Blythe Owen (1898-2000)
Symphony, op. 13 (1947)

Catharina Palmér (1963-)
Symphony No. 1, “Nuances” for mixed choir and orchestra

Natalia Raigorodsky Parris (1929-2018)
Symphony No. 1

Annelies van Parys (1975-)
Symphony No. 1, “Carillon” (2006)
Symphony No. 2, “Les Ponts” (2008)

Alla Pavlova (1952-)
Symphony No. 1 “Farewell, Russia” for chamber orchestra (1994)
Symphony No. 2 “For the New Millennium” (1998)
Symphony No. 3 (2000)
Symphony No. 4 (2002)
Symphony No. 5 (2006)
Symphony No. 6 (2008)
Symphony No. 7 (2011)
Symphony No. 8 (2011)
Symphony No. 9, “Violin Concerto” (2016)
Symphony No. 10, “Path to Golden Gate” (2017)
Symphony No. 11 (2021)

Dora Pejačević (1885-1923)
Symphony in F♯ minor, op. 41 (1917; 1920)

Barbara Pentland (1912-2000)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3, “Symphony for Ten Parts”
Symphony No. 4

Julia Perry (1924-1979)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5, “Integration”
Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 7, “U.S.A.”
Symphony No. 8
Symphony No. 9
Symphony No. 10, “Soul”
Symphony No. 11
Symphony No. 12, “Simple Symphony”
Symphony No. 13

Märta Peterson-Serafinowitsch (1912-)
Symphony No. 1

Carmen Petra-Basacopol (1926-)
Symphony

Elena Petrová (1929-2002)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3

Alexandra Pierce (1934-2021)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2, “Dances on the Face of the Deep”

Zhanna Pliyeva (1948-2023)
Symphony No. 1 (1976)
Symphony No. 2 (1976)
Symphony No. 3 (1978)
Symphony No. 4 (1991)
Symphony No. 5 (1994)
Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 7

Victoria Polevá (1962-)
Symphony No. 1 (1988; 2008)
Symphony No. 2, “Offertory to Anton Bruckner” (1990)
Symphony No. 3, “White interment” (2003)

Claire Polin (1926-1995)
Symphony No. 1 in two movements
Symphony No. 2

Oliveria Prescott (1842-1919)
Symphony No.1 in B♭ “Alkestis” (1876)
Symphony No.2 in D minor

Florence Price (1887-1953)
Symphony No. 1 in E minor (1932)
Symphony No. 2 in G minor (c.1935, lost?)
Symphony No. 3 in C minor (1940)
Symphony No. 4 in D minor (1945)

Dorothy Priesing (1910-1999)
Symphony (in one movement)

María Teresa Prieto (1896-1982)
Symphony No. 1, “Asturiana” (1942)
Symphony No. 2, “Sinfonía breve” (1945)
Symphony No. 3, “Sinfonía de la danza prima” (1951)

Tatiana Probst (1987-)
Symphony No. 1, “Exorde”

Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil (1947-)
Ocean Symphony

Marta Ptaszyńska (1943-)
Sinfonia Wratislavia

Ivy Priaulx Rainier (1903-1986)
Sinfonia da camera, for strings

Shulamit Ran (1949-)
Symphony

Santa Ratniece (1977-)
Chamber symphony, “Shant Nadi”

Weronika Ratusińska-Zamuszko (1977-)
Symphony (2008)

Elizabeth Raum (1945-)
Symphony of Youth

Sally Johnston Reid (1948-2019)
Wasatch Symphony, for wind band

Daiva Rokaitė-Dženkaitienė (1972-2010)
Little Symphony
Sky Stone Symphony

Doina Rotaru (1951-)
Symphony No. 1 (1985)
Symphony No. 2 (1988)
Symphony No. 3, “Spirit of Elements” (2001)

Dilorom Saidaminova (1943-)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Alessandra Salvati (1968-)
Sinfonia

Rhian Samuel (1944-)
Elegy-Symphony

Virginia Samuel (1957-)
Symphony (1988)

Amada Santos-Ocampo (1925-2009)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2

Elena Šataitė (1992-)
Eremos (Little Symphony)

Eglė Sausanavičiūtė (1963-)
Symphony
Somnium Simfonie
Space Symphony

Heather Schmidt (1974-)
Symphony No. 1, “Manufactured Landscapes”

Sara Opal Search (1890-1961)
Symphony No. 1 in C minor for strings (1940)
Symphony No. 2 in C minor (1941)

Susie Self (1957-)
Symphony No. 1, “Hokusai Says”
Symphony No. 2, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
Symphony No. 3, “The Pacific”
Symphony No. 4, “The Island”

Johanna Senfter (1879-1961)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 7
Symphony No. 8
Symphony No. 9

Raminta Šerkšnytė (1975-)
Iceberg Symphony

Shakhida Shaimardanova (1938-)
Symphony in C major in One Movement

Masguda Shamsutdinova (1955-)
Symphony No. 1, “Tartar Steppe (Dastan)”
Symphony No. 2, “Ibn-Fadlan”
Symphony No. 3, “Genghis-Khan” (2004)

Elisabed Shaverzashvili (1940-2018)
Symphony in three movements
Choral Symphony

Verdina Shlonsky (1905-1990)
Symphony

Taisiya Shutenko (1905-1975)
Carmelite Symphony

Tamara Sidorenko-Malyukova (1919-2005)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3

Lena Sierova (1983-)
Symphony Chton

Arlene Sierra (1970-)
Nature Symphony (2017)
Bird Symphony (2021)

Elżbieta Sikora (1943-)
Symphony No. 1, “Shadows”

Alice Mary Smith (1839-1884) [aka Alice Mary Meadows White]
Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1863)
Symphony No. 2 in A minor (1876)
Symphony No. 3 in G major [existence is disputed]

Julia Frances Smith (1905-1989)
Folkways Symphony (1948)

Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Symphony, “The Prison”

Charlotte Sohy (1887-1955)
Symphony in C♯ minor, “Great War” (1917)

Ann Southam (1937-2010)
Chamber Symphony

Mihaela Stănculescu-Vosganian (1961-)
Symphony No. 1, for Three Groups of Instruments and String Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, for Organ, Percussion and String Orchestra, “Parallel Times”
Sax Symphony-Concerto

Helen Camille Stanley (1930-)
Symphony No. 1 (1954)

Carolyn Steinberg (1956-)
Chamber Symphony (1990)

Rita Strohl (1865-1941)
[born Aimée Marie Marguerite Mercédès Larousse La Villette]
Symphonie de la forêt (1901)
Symphonie de la mer (1902)

Dana Suesse (1909-1987)
Antique Symphony (1946)

Margaret Sutherland (1897-1984)
Symphony in F♯

Natela Svanidze (1926-2017)
Symphony for piano, string and percussion instruments
Symphony-Ballet
Symphony No. 2

Åsa Svensson (1970?-)
Symphony No. 1 (1993)

Edith Swepstone (1862-1942)
Symphony in G minor

Lubava Sydorenko (1979-)
“Ab initio”, symphony for large orchestra and solo violin

Diana Syrse (1984-)
Symphony No. 1, “Nach der Tragödie”

Andrea Tarrodi (1981-)
Symphony in Fire, Water, Earth & Air (2021)

Cornelia Tăutu (1938-2019)
Symphony No. 1, “1907” (1987)

Helen Taylor (1915-1950)
Symphony

Zlata Tcaci (1928-2006)
Symphony “Panopticum”, for strings, xylophone, and timpani

Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea (1959-)
Archimedes Symphony

Alicia Terzian (1934-)
Symphony No. 1

Shirley J. Thompson (1958-)
New Nation Rising, A 21st Century Symphony (2004)
Spirit Songs Symphony (2007)

Anna Thorvaldsdottir (1977-)
AIŌN, symphony (2018)

Alena Tomlenova (1963-)
Symphony No. 1, poems by A. S. Pushkin
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 6

Julia Tsenova (1948-2010)
Symphony for piano and orchestra (1972)

Karmella Tsepkolenko (1955-)
Symphony No. 1 “Symphonic Poem”
Symphony No. 2 “Symphonic Diptych”
Symphony No. 3 “Memorial Symphony”
Symphony No. 4 (2004)
Symphony No. 5

Anitra Tumševica (1971-)
Chamber symphony No. 1, “Die Stimme” (The Voice)
Chamber Symphony No. 2, “Signs”

Stefania Turkewich (1898-1977)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Space Symphony

Agnes Tyrrell (1846-1883)
Symphony in C major

Julia Usher (1945-)
Camulodunum Sinfonia

Galina Ustvolskaya (1919-2006)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2, “True and Eternal Bliss!”
Symphony No. 3, “Jesus Messiah, Save Us!”
Symphony No. 4, “Prayer”
Symphony No. 5, “Amen”

Nomeda Valančiūtė (1961-)
Little Symphony

Mary Jeanne Van Appledorn (1927-2014)
Symphony No.1
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4 (1985-87)

Lucie Vellère (1896-1966)
Petite Symphony, for string orchestra

Mari Vihmand (1967-)
Symphony

Anastasia Vinogradova (1994-)
Symphony No. 1, “In Memoriam”
Symphony No. 2, “Metamorphosis”
Symphony No. 3, “Light Symphony”
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5, “Collage”

Sláva Vorlová (1894-1973)
Symphony

Errollyn Wallen (1958-)
Spirit Symphony – Speed-Dating for Two Orchestras (2004)
Spirit Symphony [version for one orchestra] (2007)
Carbon 12: A Choral Symphony (2008)
Earth Requiem Symphony (2020)

Harriet Ware (1877-1962)
New York Symphony (1910)

Elinor Remick Warren (1900-1991)
Symphony in One Movement (1970)
The Legend of King Arthur, A Choral Symphony, for baritone, tenor, choir and orchestra

Meira Warshauer (1949-)
Symphony No. 1, “Living, Breathing Earth”

Norma Wendelburg (1918-2016)
Symphony No. 1 (1967)

Ruth White (1925-2013)
Shofar Symphony (1965)

Gillian Whitehead (1942-)
Sinfonia

Margaret Lucy Wilkins (1939-)
Symphony

Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Sinfonia concertante
Symphony No. 1, “Symphonic Impressions”
Symphony No. 2

Regina Hansen Willman (1914-1965)
Anchorage Symphony

Ruth Shaw Wylie (1916-1989)
Symphony No. 1, op. 6, “Archaic” (1943)
Symphony No. 2, op. 11 (1948)

Carolyn Yarnell (1961-)
Symphony No. 1 (1991)

Alla Zahaikevych (1966-)
Symphony on the poetry of Vladimir Mayakovsky, for baritone and orchestra

Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (1948-)
Construction Symphony, for youth orchestra
Sefirot Symphony, for woodwind, brass, percussion and harp

Judith Lang Zaimont (1945-)
Symphony No. 1 (1994)
Symphony No. 2 for Symphonic Strings “Remember Me” (2001)
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4 “Pure, Cool (Water)” (2013)
Symphony No. 5 “Hidden Heritage – A Dance Symphony” (1987)
Symphony No. 6 for Orchestral Strings “Symphony of Seasons” (2019)
Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes (2003)

Isadora Žebeljan (1967-2020)
Symphony in Three Movements, “Escenas Picaras”

Ruth Zechlin (1926-2007)
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 2
Chamber Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 3
Chamber Symphony No. 2

Gaziza Zhubanova (1927-1993)
Symphony No. 1, “Energy”
Symphony No. 2, “Island of Women”
Symphony No. 3, “Sarozek Metaphors”

Lidia Zielińska (1953-)
Little Atrophic Symphony (1988)
Sinfonia Concertante for Small Sound Devices, Small Percussion, and Large Orchestra

Diana Ziu (?-)
Symphony No. 1, “Apotheosis of the New Century”

Mirjana Živković (1935-2020)
Sinfonia polifonica

Agata Zubel (1978-)
Symphony No. 1 (2002)
Symphony No. 2, for 77 performers (2005)
Symphony No. 3, for a double-bell trumpet and orchestra (2010)

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1939-)
Chamber Symphony (1979)
Symphony No. 1, “Three Movements for Orchestra” (1982)
Symphony No. 2, “Cello Symphony” (1985)
Symphony No. 3 (1992)
Symphony No. 4, “The Gardens” (1999)
Symphony No. 5, “Concerto for Orchestra” (2008)

Four Last Songs

German composer Richard Strauss (1864-1949) composed his Four Last Songs (Vier letzte Lieder) in 1948 at the age of 84. These extraordinarily beautiful orchestral songs were the last completed compositions by Strauss, save for a song for soprano and piano called “Malven” composed later that same year and virtually unknown until 1984.

John Rockwell writes in the September 15, 1984 issue of the New York Times: “Strauss, who died in September 1949 at the age of 85, is widely believed to be the finest composer in the German song tradition after Franz Schubert and Hugo Wolf, with an affinity for the soprano voice. In addition, his final compositions of the 1940’s are especially prized, blending autumnal mastery with late-blooming inspiration.”

The Four Last Songs were neither published nor performed until after Strauss’ death. Their first performance was on May 22, 1950 at the Royal Albert Hall in London by legendary soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) and Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886-1954) conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Frühling [Spring]
September
Beim Schlafengehen [When Falling Asleep]
Im Abendrot [At Sunset]

Earlier, I wrote about the extraordinary recording of Also sprach Zarathustra by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. Another indispensable Strauss recording is soprano Kiri Te Kanawa (who retired from professional singing just last month) singing Four Last Songs and six other Strauss orchestral songs with Sir Andrew Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra (Sony Classical SK 92606), January 13-20, 1977.

Te Kanawa is the perfect soprano to sing Four Last Songs, and I doubt you will find a better performance. Six additional R. Strauss orchestral songs make this a recording that should be in every Strauss enthusiast’s collection.

Morgen [Tomorrow]
Muttertändelei [Mother-chatter]
Ruhe, meine Seele [Rest, my soul]
Wiegenlied [Lullaby]
Befreit [Released]
Zueignung [Dedication]

Graham Nash

Graham Nash played a wonderful concert last night in Madison, Wisconsin, along with incredible guitarist Shane Fontayne (who also contributed backing vocals). At age 75, he sounds great.

The venue was perfect. This was my first visit to the ornate Capitol Theater, which was incorporated into the Overture Center, which opened in 2004. Acoustics were perfect, the environment comfortable and attractive, and the music was never too loud. The earplugs I brought along just in case went unused. A lovely evening.

Here’s the setlist from the October 14, 2017 performance:

Set 1

Bus Stop (The Hollies song)
King Midas in Reverse (The Hollies song)
Wasted on the Way (Crosby, Stills & Nash song)
I Used to Be a King
Immigration Man (Crosby & Nash song)
Sleep Song
Myself at Last
Marrakesh Express (Crosby, Stills & Nash song)
Military Madness
Wind on the Water (Crosby & Nash song)
A Day in the Life (The Beatles cover)

Set 2

Just a Song Before I Go (Crosby, Stills & Nash song)
Taken at All (Crosby & Nash song)
In Your Name
4 + 20 (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
Golden Days
Mississippi Burning
Back Home
Cathedral (Crosby, Stills & Nash song)
Our House (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
Chicago (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)

Encore

Blackbird (The Beatles cover)
Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
Teach Your Children (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)

I’ve been a fan of Graham Nash since his 1971 album, Songs for Beginners and, of course, his work with CSNY. I’ve always appreciated his deep political convictions and antiwar activism. This was in full evidence at last night’s concert, with Immigration Man, Military Madness, In Your Name, Mississippi Burning, Cathedral, Chicago, Ohio, and Teach Your Children still as relevant today as they were when they were originally written—some of them decades ago.

This activism was reflected in some of his comments to the audience. Prior to performing Military Madness, he shared that he is “tired of doing this song” as he reflected on the current dire political situation in this country and around the world. At one point in the song, he replaced the words “military madness” with “nuclear madness”. Nash made it clear at various points throughout the concert that he despises Donald Trump and his administration, and as near as I could tell, everyone in the audience agreed with him (Hillary Clinton received over twice as many votes as Donald Trump in Dane County, thankfully). In Chicago he replaced the words “Don’t ask jack to help you ’cause he’ll turn the other ear” to “Don’t ask Trump to help you ’cause he’ll turn the other ear.” And so on. His occasional comments between songs about war and violence were heartfelt and sincere. He lamented, “What ever happened to ‘all you need is love'”, and that each of us must do our part to “stop all the killing”. Nash also noted that many people now and in the past have been killed in the name of religion. [That is why I take such a dim view of organized religion—none of us have it right.] He also mentioned the news focuses on all the horrific things that happen in the world but not the “thousands of good things” that happen everywhere every day.

For more about Nash in a recent interview, see Tom Kobinsky’s interview published October 12 in Isthmus, “Finding peace in chaos”.

There were a number of good balcony seats available in the Capitol Theater on Saturday, October 14, 8:00 p.m. If you weren’t there, you missed a fabulous concert. Graham Nash and Shane Fontayne will be playing Milwaukee tonight. Future concert dates can be found here. Enjoy!

References
Kobinsky, Tom, Isthmus, “Finding peace in chaos: Graham Nash on teaching our children in the age of Trump”, Oct. 12, 2017 <https://isthmus.com/music/songwriter-graham-nash-trump/>

setlist.fm <https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/graham-nash/2017/capitol-theater-overture-center-for-the-arts-madison-wi-53e3d7e5.html>

Also Sprach Zarathustra

My first exposure to the music of Richard Strauss (1864-1949) was, like many, the magnificent fanfare that is the opening music in Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Der_junge_Richard_Strauss.JPG — Richard Strauss

I soon discovered that this was the beginning section of the 1896 tone poem, Also sprach Zarathustra, by Richard Strauss.

The full title of the work, his opus 30, is Also sprach Zarathustra: Tondichtung für großes Orchester (frei nach Friedrich Nietzsche) [Thus spoke Zarathustra: Tone-poem for large orchestra (freely after Friedrich Nietzsche)].

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) wrote his philosophical novel that was the inspiration for this musical work, Also sprach Zarathustra: Ein Buch für Alle und Keinen [Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None] between 1883 and 1885. Nietzsche argues that the meaning of existence is not to be found in religious pieties or meek submission to authority, but in an all-powerful life force: passionate, chaotic and free. (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, translated by R. J. Hollingdale, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1961).

The nine sections of Also sprach Zarathustra by R. Strauss are as follows:

Einleitung, oder Sonnenaufgang [Introduction, or Sunrise]
Von den Hinterweltlern [Of the Backworldsmen]
Von der großen Sehnsucht [Of the Great Longing]
Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften [Of Joys and Passions]
Das Grablied [The Song of the Grave]
Von der Wissenschaft [Of Science and Learning]
Der Genesende [The Convalescent]
Das Tanzlied [The Dance-Song]
Nachtwandlerlied [Song of the Night Wanderer]

There is one recording of this extraordinary work that stands above all the rest. It is so close to perfection that I doubt it will ever be surpassed. It is the 1973 Deutsche Grammophon recording, released in 1974, of Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Solo violin: Michel Schwalbé.

This very best recording of Also sprach Zarathustra is Deutsche Grammophon 447 441-2. Duration: 35:05. Seek out this recording, and enjoy it for a lifetime!

Einstein, Brahms, and Exoplanets

What do Albert Einstein, Johannes Brahms, and exoplanets have in common? They are all great courses provided by The Great Courses.

Call me old fashioned, but I love a great lecture presented by an expert in the field. What a wonderful way to get introduced to a new subject, or refamiliarize yourself with an old subject, or deepen your knowledge about a subject with which you are already familiar.

I recently finished watching the magnificent course “Albert Einstein: Physicist, Philosopher, Humanitarian” by Don Howard, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, former Director of Notre Dame’s Graduate Program in History and Philosophy of Science, and a Fellow of the University of Notre Dame’s Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values.

I have taken an interest in Einstein since I first encountered relativity in my early teens, and of course being a physics major in college I became much more familiar with Einstein’s remarkable scientific contributions. But this course surprised and delighted me with many details about Einstein himself. Howard obviously has a much deeper understanding of Einstein the person than most physicists do, and his enthusiasm for his subject comes through in every lecture. I doubt you will find a more thorough treatment of Einstein anywhere short of reading a biography. Recommended!

As luck would have it, while I was nearing the end of this course, Time came out with an updated reissue of its special edition, “Albert Einstein: The Enduring Legacy of a Modern Genius”. Great photographs, great text. Well worth every penny!

Robert Greenberg is music historian-in-residence with San Francisco Performances and has produced a lot of high-quality music courses for The Great Courses. I am in the process of watching all of them (yes, really, they’re that good!). Recently, I finished his course on Johannes Brahms, who is probably my all-time favorite composer.

The music of Brahms is well known by many, but how much do you know about Johannes Brahms the person, and the events of his life? This course is the perfect introduction to those subjects, as well as his extraordinary compositions.

It is amazing to me that no one has yet made a feature-length film about the life of Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). A historically accurate dramatic portrayal could easily become one of the most significant musical film biographies ever made. Brahms was one of the greatest composers who ever lived, and he had an interesting life—there is much material to draw upon for the making of this movie. Greenberg’s course is a great place to begin, and I would also recommend the definitive biography, “Brahms: His Life and Work” by Karl Geiringer.

You’ve just got to love The Great Courses. This is what television could have been. PBS is the only thing that even comes close. I recently completed “The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know” presented by Joshua Winn, now Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University. Not since Carl Sagan or Neil deGrasse Tyson have I been this excited about an astronomy presenter. Josh Winn presents his exoplanets course with enthusiasm, precision, and a delivery that really draws you in to the subject. I hope we see much more of him in the future.

Electronic Music

If you haven’t experienced any of the wonderful music courses taught by Dr. Robert Greenberg, available through The Great Courses, you’re missing a lot. In episode 1, “The Language of Music”, of Understanding the Fundamentals of Music (Course No. 7261), Greenberg describes music not only as a language, but as what I would call a superlanguage.

Music is the ultimate language, a mega-language. A language in which our hard-wired proclivities to use successions of pitches and sounds to communicate are exaggerated, intensified, and codified into a sonic experience capable of infinitely more expressive depth and nuance than mere words alone.

Greenberg goes on to present a definition of music that is far better than any you will find in the dictionary.

Music is sound in time, or, if you prefer, time ordered by sound. That definition isolates the two essential aspects of music, sound and time, without any qualifications.

After defining timbre, Greenberg presents the five families of instruments in the Western musical tradition. Aside from the human voice, they are

Stringed instruments
Wind instruments
Brass instruments
Percussion instruments
Keyboard instruments

And, Greenberg states,

If this course had been written back in the 1970s or ’80s, it would have included a sixth instrumental category: electronics. There was a genuine belief back then that digitally synthesized sound was the wave of the future. And that an entirely new vocabulary of sound, one relevant to the technocracy of the modern world, was just around the corner. You know what? It never happened. As it turned out, composers prefer to write for real people playing real instruments. And audiences would rather listen to real people playing real instruments. Ironically, more than anything else, digital electronics are used today to imitate those “antiquated” instruments that they were purportedly going to replace.

Though I certainly agree that electronic music will never replace natural instruments played by real people, and I hope that orchestral and chamber music will be with us centuries hence, I have no doubt that new instruments will occasionally be invented and join their venerated ranks, and that electronic music will one day garner enough respect that it will take a permanent seat as a sixth instrumental category.

The world has yet to see a composer of electronic music that can be considered on equal footing with Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, or Mahler. But it will happen. Perhaps, even today, there lives a young girl or boy somewhere in the world who is already on the path towards becoming the world’s first great composer of electronic music.

Isao Tomita (1932-2016), of Japan, has arguably come the closest. Yes, his music is idiosyncratic, and his best work a reinterpretation of existing orchestral pieces, but when you listen to Tomita at his best, you get at least a sense of what is possible within the electronic idiom. Who wouldn’t be tempted by the ability to create any tone color or instrumental timbre imaginable? It’s not for everyone, I know.

Here is a sampling of Tomita’s best work:

Snowflakes are Dancing (1974)

Pictures at an Exhibition (1975)

Firebird (1976)

Tomita was a pioneer. The best is yet to come.

Wind in the Window

One very windy morning last week I lay in bed listening to the wind whistling in the window above me. It was playing a pentatonic scale! Albeit accompanied by some very complex and interesting overtones. The pitches formed a major pentatonic scale: G♭₄ – A♭₄ – B♭₄ – D♭₅ – E♭₅.

This led me to reflect on the origins of human music. Even though there were no windows in prehistoric times, there has always been the sound of the wind amongst the rocks and the trees, and a myriad of other sounds in the natural world. These sounds of nature must have provided the initial impetus for human music making, both vocal and instrumental.

All is Well

Iowa County, Wisconsin needs a secular, four-part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) choir for adult singers that meets regularly. When was the last time this area had something like that? I really miss singing in the tenor section of the Sul Ross State University Concert Choir under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Donald Freed. Dr. Freed is quite a good choral composer, too. What a privilege it was to sing a number of his choral works during my years in Alpine, Texas.

Fortunately, each year I have the opportunity to sing with the Lands’ End Choir here in Dodgeville each holiday season, under the capable leadership of Phil DeKok, conductor, and Dawn Lingard, accompanist. It is an amateur choir, of course, and though we rehearse just once a week over the noon hour from late October through early December, it is always a joy to be singing again.

This year, my favorite piece by far was All is Well by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick (words & music) in a beautiful arrangement by Lloyd Larson. Here is Lloyd talking about the piece:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6wqL6Kt_L4

I get pretty emotional about music, and I had a hard time getting through this particular piece without getting a little choked up and teary eyed.

The son of one of our choir members, Bev Adams-Sugden, recorded our performance of this work in Bldg. 5 over the noon hour on Tuesday, December 20, 2016. Enjoy!

https://skythisweek.info/Lands End Choir 201612 B5 All is Well.mp4