Death and Transfiguration (Tod und Verklärung), Op. 24, is a symphonic poem composed by Richard Strauss between 1888 and 1889 and premiered in 1890. It portrays the final moments of an artist on his deathbed, reflecting on his life’s struggles...

George Gershwin’s An American in Paris is a symphonic poem that vividly captures the energy and charm of Paris through the perspective of an American traveler. Premiered in 1928, the piece blends jazz elements with classical orchestration,...

Maurice Ravel's La Valse, M.72, is a symphonic poem composed between 1919 and 1920, originally conceived as a ballet. The piece is a vivid and complex tribute to the Viennese waltz, though it evolves into a chaotic and almost nightmarish deconstruction...

REPRINT SERIES Sibelius' Tempest Suite No.1, Op. 109 No.2 is a richly atmospheric orchestral work drawn from his incidental music for Shakespeare’s The Tempest. This suite captures the mystical and dramatic elements of the play, with evocative...

REPRINT SERIES Benjamin Arthur’s Two Jamaican Pieces for orchestra, comprising Jamaican Song and Jamaican Rumba, is a lively and colorful representation of Jamaican musical traditions. These pieces capture the rhythmic energy and melodic charm of...

Jean Sibelius composed the incidental music for Shakespeare's "The Tempest," Op. 109, between 1925 and 1926, marking one of his final major works before his retreat from public composition. Commissioned for a production at Copenhagen's Royal Theatre, the...

Bruno Maderna's "Composizione in tre tempi," composed in 1954, exemplifies his innovative approach to orchestral composition in the mid-20th century. Structured in three movements—"Allegro scorrevole," "Adagio," and "Allegro"—the piece...

REPRINT SERIES Sibelius' Suite No. 2, Op. 109 No. 3, "The Tempest", is part of his incidental music for Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, composed in 1925–1926. This second suite, distinct from the first, features a selection of movements that...

Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte ("Pavane for a Dead Princess") was originally composed for solo piano in 1899 but was later orchestrated in 1910, giving the piece a richer, more atmospheric quality. In the orchestral version, Ravel...

Five Fragments, Op. 42 is a suite for small orchestra composed on June 9, 1935, by Dmitri Shostakovich. It was the only work, apart from film music, that he composed that year. He approached it as preparatory work for the composition of the final version...

Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin Suite M.68a was originally composed as a piano suite between 1914 and 1917 and later transcribed for orchestra. The piece pays homage to the French Baroque composer François Couperin, blending Baroque dance forms...

Roberto Gerhard's Symphony No. 3, composed in 1960, is a striking example of his transition from late romanticism to more modernist, experimental approaches. The symphony was written during a period of personal and professional transformation for...

Bruno Maderna's Introduzione e Passacaglia is a striking orchestral work that showcases his deep engagement with serial techniques and expressive freedom. Composed in 1953, the piece reflects Maderna’s affinity for both rigorous structural...

Sibelius' Valse Triste, Op. 44, No. 1, is a hauntingly beautiful waltz originally composed in 1903 as part of the incidental music for his brother-in-law Arvid Järnefelt’s play Kuolema ("Death"). The piece captures a dreamlike and melancholic...

Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole is a vibrant orchestral work composed in 1907–1908, showcasing his deep fascination with Spanish music and rhythms. Although Ravel was French, his Basque heritage greatly influenced his affinity for Spanish sounds, which...

Arthur Bliss's Miracle in the Gorbals is a one-act ballet that premiered in London on October 26, 1944. Set in the slums of Glasgow, the ballet tells a dramatic and symbolic story of redemption and sacrifice. The scenario was written by Michael Benthall,...

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Three Portraits from The England of Elizabeth is a suite derived from his music for the 1955 documentary film The England of Elizabeth. This orchestral work, structured in three movements, captures the spirit and historical...

Ravel's Shéhérazade, Ouverture de féerie is a fascinating early work that hints at the composer's later mastery of orchestral color and evocative storytelling. Written in 1898, this symphonic overture is inspired by the tales of the...