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,...

Gerald Finzi’s orchestration of Let Us Garlands Bring, Op. 18, enhances the song cycle’s lyrical beauty with a richer, more expansive texture. Originally composed for baritone and piano, Finzi later arranged it for baritone and string...

REPRINT SERIES Grażyna Bacewicz’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (1966) is a vibrant and rhythmically dynamic work that blends neoclassicism with modernist elements. The two pianos engage in energetic interplay, sometimes cooperating and...

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...

REPRINT SERIES Alan Rawsthorne’s Elegiac Rhapsody for String Orchestra was composed in 1964 as a tribute to Constant Lambert, who had died in 1951. The piece reflects Rawsthorne’s distinctive style, characterized by structural clarity and...

Gerald Finzi’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, Op. 35, is a choral work composed in 1950 for a two-part chorus and chamber orchestra. The text is taken from the biblical book Ecclesiasticus (Sirach 44), a passage that honors great figures from...

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...

Stravinsky's "The Firebird" Suite (1919 version) stands as one of the most celebrated works in 20th-century classical music. This version is an orchestral suite derived from Stravinsky's original 1910 ballet score for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes...

Stravinsky composed Ebony Concerto in 1945, blending elements of classical music and jazz in a unique and innovative way. The piece was commissioned by Woody Herman, a prominent American jazz clarinetist and bandleader, for his ensemble, the First Herd...

Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs, composed in 1948, represents the culmination of the composer’s career and a profound reflection on life and mortality. Scored for soprano and orchestra, these four songs—Frühling (Spring), September,...

Sibelius's Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82, was composed in 1915 and later revised in 1916 and 1919, reflecting the composer's continuous search for structural clarity and thematic cohesion. Commissioned for his 50th birthday celebrations, the...

Arthur Bliss's "Prologue and Five Dances" is a concert suite derived from his 1937 ballet Checkmate. The ballet itself is a dramatic allegory about a chess game where humanized chess pieces enact a tale of power, conflict, and tragic love. Bliss's music...

Stravinsky's Circus Polka for Orchestra, composed in 1942, was originally created for a ballet featuring elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Commissioned by circus impresario George Balanchine, the piece humorously paired...

REPRINT SERIES Heitor Villa-Lobos' Mômoprecóce for Piano and Orchestra (1929) is a vivid celebration of Brazilian Carnival. The work captures the festive, mischievous spirit of the event through a dazzling piano solo and a vibrant...

Kurt Atterberg's Symphony No. 2 in F major, Op. 6, composed in 1911-12, is a work that reflects his early maturity and connection to the Romantic tradition. It is scored for a standard late-Romantic orchestra and unfolds over three movements. The...

REPRINT SERIES Hugo Alfvén's "Vallflickans Dans" (The Shepherd’s Girl’s Dance) is one of the most celebrated excerpts from his ballet Bergakungen (The Mountain King), composed in 1916-1923. This orchestral piece captures the essence...

Stravinsky's Tango for Orchestra is a vivid re-imagining of his original 1940 piano composition, showcasing his signature neoclassical style within the framework of the popular Argentine dance. The piece retains the characteristic rhythm and melancholy...

Arthur Bliss's "Music for Strings" is a vibrant and expressive work composed in 1935, showcasing the composer’s mastery of string writing. The piece was commissioned for the 1935 Salzburg Festival and is structured in three movements: Prelude,...