Discover published sets by community

Composer: Joseph Haydn. Historical significance: Also known as the 'London Symphony,' it is the last of Haydn's symphonies and is notable for its grandeur and expansiveness.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven. Historical significance: Known as one of Beethoven's 'happier' symphonies, this work is cheerful in nature despite some of the personal troubles Beethoven was facing at the time.

Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich. Historical significance: Completed during the Siege of Leningrad, this symphony was intended to be a symbol of resistance against fascism and the Nazi invasion.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven. Historical significance: Known as the 'Eroica Symphony,' this piece was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte but was rededicated after Napoleon declared himself Emperor.

Composer: Franz Schubert. Historical significance: Known as the 'Unfinished Symphony,' it only has two complete movements; though Schubert lived for six more years after starting it, he never completed it.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven. Historical significance: Renowned for its use of rhythm, particularly in the first movement, and its expression of joy, this symphony was very well received at its premiere, which Beethoven himself conducted.

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff. Historical significance: One of Rachmaninoff's most popular pieces, it brought him great success after the severe depression that followed his poorly received First Symphony.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven. Historical significance: Known as the 'Pastoral Symphony,' this work is programmatic, with each movement depicting a scene from country life.

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Historical significance: One of the last three Mozart symphonies, known for its emotionally intense and stormy character, which was unusual for its time.

Composer: Joseph Haydn. Historical significance: Also known as the 'Surprise Symphony,' it includes a sudden loud chord at the end of the slow movement that was meant to startle the audience.

Composer: Antonín Dvořák. Historical significance: Known as the 'New World Symphony,' it was composed during Dvořák's time in America, and the music was influenced by American folk music and Native American music.

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Historical significance: Also known as 'Pathétique Symphony,' this was Tchaikovsky's final completed symphony whose premiere he conducted just nine days before his death.

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Historical significance: This symphony is known for its theme of fate and includes fanfares that signify the inexorable force of destiny.

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Historical significance: A youthful work of Mozart, this symphony is known for its elegance, dynamic contrasts and influence on later composers, including Haydn.

Composer: Johannes Brahms. Historical significance: After years of laboring in Beethoven's shadow, this was Brahms' first symphony and has been nicknamed 'Beethoven's Tenth' due to its perceived similarities to Beethoven's work.

Composer: Jean Sibelius. Historical significance: This symphony, which features a distinctive 'swan theme' in the final movement, was originally composed to celebrate the composer's 50th birthday, and was later revised.

Composer: Joseph Haydn. Historical significance: Also known as 'The Clock' because of the ticking rhythm of the second movement, this symphony is one of the twelve London Symphonies written by Haydn and illustrates his mature style.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven. Historical significance: The final complete symphony by Beethoven, noted for the choral finale—a setting of Friedrich Schiller's poem 'Ode to Joy.'

Composer: Gustav Mahler. Historical significance: Also known as 'Titan' after the novel by Jean Paul, this symphony was one of Mahler's earliest large-scale works and reflects his idea of a symphonic 'world' depicting life and creation.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven. Historical significance: Known for its distinct four-note opening motif, this symphony is often considered one of the cornerstones of western music.

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Historical significance: Also known as 'Jupiter Symphony,' it is Mozart's last symphony and is known for its complex and sophisticated final movement with five-voice fugato.

Composer: Anton Bruckner. Historical significance: Known as one of Bruckner's greatest achievements, this symphony is sometimes called 'The Apocalyptic' and is notable for its complexity and length.

Composer: Jean Sibelius. Historical significance: Often regarded as Finland's greatest composer, this symphony is viewed by many as a symbol of the Finnish struggle for independence.

Composer: Johannes Brahms. Historical significance: Considered one of his masterpieces, Brahms' last symphony is noted for its serious tone and use of chaconne technique in the final movement.

Composer: Johannes Brahms. Historical significance: It's the shortest of Brahms' four symphonies; the third movement was particularly admired by the composer Anton Bruckner who referred to it as the 'Eroica' of Brahms.

Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich. Historical significance: Composed during the Stalinist regime in Russia, this symphony was Shostakovich's response to the official criticism he had received earlier and was intended to be a soviet artist's 'reply to just criticism.'

Composer: Joseph Haydn. Historical significance: Known as the 'Drumroll Symphony' due to the long roll on the timpani with which it begins, this is one of Haydn's most popular and frequently performed symphonies.