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The first is a Baroque orchestra (i.e., J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi), which generally had a smaller number of performers, and in which one or more chord-playing instruments, the basso continuo group (e.g., harpsichord or pipe organ and assorted bass instruments to perform the bassline), played an important role; the second is a typical classical period orchestra (e.g., early Beethoven along ...
- Verdi – ‘Dies Irae’ from Requiem. Thundering bass drums, swirling strings and the frenzied cry of a thousand sopranos makes this possibly the most epic ‘Dies Irae’ of all Requiems.
- Haydn – The Creation. How about the creation of the entire world in a single piece of music? Joseph Haydn was the undisputed master of the Classical era, and this was his unequalled masterpiece.
- Ethel Smyth – The Wreckers. Composer and activist Ethel Smyth wrote the official anthem of the suffragette movement. But even more epic is her opera The Wreckers, set in a remote 18th-century Cornish village, with a bold, rich score to evoke a tragic story.
- Beethoven – Symphony No.9 (Ode to Joy) Considered the pinnacle of Beethoven’s musical genius, this colossal symphony is still one of the greatest ever written, and one of the most thrilling live music experiences.
- Beethoven Symphony No. 5. Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 is probably the most well-known orchestral work. It has the famous intro theme that musicians and non-musicians recognize.
- Brahms Symphony No. 4. Another famous symphony to listen to is Brahms Symphony No. 4. The piece is in E minor and contains four movements. It's also the only symphony in which Brahms wrote the last movement in a minor key.
- Dvorak Symphony No. 9. Also known as the “New World Symphony,” Dvorak Symphony No. 9 is another famous work. It has a larger wind and percussion section than some works.
- Holst The Planets. Gustav Holst wrote The Planets, and each movement features a planet (aside from Earth). The composer took inspiration not from mythology or astronomy but from astrology.
Orchestral music has a global reach, with orchestras and ensembles performing and recording music in countries around the world. Concert halls are no longer the only venues for orchestral music. Through touring, recordings, and digital distribution platforms, orchestral music reaches audiences far beyond the concert hall, fostering cross-cultural exchange and appreciation.
- Mozart – Symphony No. 41. Mozart’s final symphony was also his best – and it’s no coincidence that it’s subtitled ‘Jupiter’, either. Mozart threw absolutely everything at this epic, his longest symphony.
- Florence Price – Symphony No.1. In 1932, Florence Price took home first prize in a competition for her glorious Symphony No.1 in E minor, a thrilling four-movement work packed with soaring melodies.
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 (‘Choral’) Written when the composer himself was profoundly deaf, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is without question, one of the greatest works in the classical repertoire, labelled by Classic FM presenter and Beethoven expert, John Suchet, as “the culmination of Beethoven’s genius”.
- Mahler – Symphony No. 2 (‘Resurrection’) This masterful symphony was Mahler’s most loved work during his own lifetime, and an absolute triumph at its premiere.
Our guide to the very best orchestras in the world. Visit classical-music.com for much more from the wonderful world of classical music
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Feb 7, 2006 · Orchestral Music Composers of orchestral music, though they often use a piano as a point of reference in the composing process, conceive their work in terms of the musical colours, timbres and textures available only in an orchestra, which is an ensemble that may vary in size from about 30 musicians to over 100. Families of Instruments
