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Mozart - Symphony No. 41
Key: C major
This is the last symphony Mozart composed. Its nickname is the Jupiter Symphony. -
Beethoven - Symphony No. 7
Key: A major
Beethoven composed this work while living in the town of Teplice, in what is now the Czech Republic. It is dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries. -
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique
Key: C major.
This is a programmatic symphony (has a known story). It is suspected that at least part of this symphony was composed while Berlioz was under the influence of opium. A quote from Leonard Bernstein describing the symphony, "Berlioz tells it like it is. You take a trip, you wind up screaming at your own funeral." -
Brahms - Symphony No. 2
Key: D major.
This symphony was composed in Pörtschach am Wörthersee, Austria. The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, and strings, a relatively small ensemble. -
Bruckner - Symphony No. 8
Key: C minor.
This was his last symphony. It is dedicated to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. -
Mahler - Symphony No. 2
Key: C minor/Eb Major
This symphony is known as the "Resurrection Symphony". It features a minor mode version of "Frere Jacques". -
Sibelius - Symphony No. 7
Key: C major. This was his final symphony. -
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5
Key: D minor
The work is scored for two flutes and piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets and E♭ clarinet, two bassoons and contrabassoon, four horns, three B♭ trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, tam-tam, glockenspiel, xylophone, two harps (one part), piano, celesta and strings.
