By Baker Purdon
A symphony orchestra is a shapeshifting ensemble capable of transporting listeners through time, space, and emotion. Comprising a large group of musicians playing a variety of instruments (including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and more), symphony orchestras are known for their impressive range and versatility. In this installment of my Tour of Regional Orchestras series (you can check out the previous post here), I’ll explore the different types of music performed by symphony orchestras today with examples from the Lancaster, Delaware, and Princeton Symphony Orchestras.
1. Classical Symphonies
Classical symphonies form the backbone of symphony orchestras’ repertoire. These compositions, typically written for a full orchestra, have been captivating audiences for centuries. The classical symphony genre can be traced back to the 18th century, with composers such as Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven leading the way.
Classical symphonies are often characterized by a four-movement structure:
- The first movement is fast and lively, setting the tone for the entire symphony
- The second movement is slower and more introspective, providing contrast and depth
- The third movement is typically a minuet or scherzo, offering a light, dance-like interlude
- The fourth movement is a fast and energetic finale, bringing the symphony to a thrilling conclusion
As with most creative endeavors, though, the rules are often meant to be broken as composers challenge this structure.
For example, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra recently performed a program that included Tchakovsky’s final symphony, Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74, often called the Pathétique Symphony. While some aspects of this tragic and heartbreaking piece follow the standard format listed above (it has four movements; there is a dance-like movement, there is a vivacious third movement that breaks the melancholy), many things differ too (the second movement is the dance; the first movement is occasionally vivacious, but carries a heavy sense of grief; the fourth movement mounts sadness upon sadness and ends almost unbelievably with a whisper). Adding to the drama and mystique of this piece, not ten days after it premiered, Tchaikovsky died under somewhat mysterious circumstances.
The Princeton Symphony tackled this work with great skill under guest conductor Sameer Patel. We’ll come back to him and Princeton later when we discuss new works.
Lancaster Symphony Orchestras
Another example would be Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s recent program that included Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony (Symphony No. 5, Op. 107). Composed in 1830 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession (a key document of the Protestant Reformation), it follows more traditionally the model outlined above while weaving a famous Lutheran chorale (“Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” or “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”) throughout the work. As is often done on programs that feature the classical side of the symphony orchestra, lesser-known works are paired with more famous ones. Lancaster paired Mendelssohn with two lesser-known pieces. One, featuring guest classical guitarist Colin Davin, was Joaquin Rodrigo’s electrifying Concierto de Aranjuez. The other was a beautiful and surprising piece for strings and organ, Tomaso Albinoni’s Adagio. This model is becoming the predominant one in classical programming as orchestras reckon with the centuries-old legacy of white male dominance in orchestral music.
2. Film Scores
Film scores, also known as movie soundtracks, have become a popular addition to symphony orchestra programs. These scores are composed specifically to enhance the emotional impact and narrative of a film, often becoming iconic elements of the movie-going experience.
Renowned film composers such as John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park), Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, Inception), and Danny Elfman (Edward Scissorhands, Batman) have created unforgettable melodies that translate beautifully into symphonic performances. As a result, film score concerts have gained significant popularity, often attracting new audiences to symphony orchestras.
These Film Score concerts come in two forms. The first is one you’ve most likely seen associated with Harry Potter and Star Wars films at your local symphony. In this format, the entire film plays on screen at the concert hall, but the music has been pulled out. Instead, it is played live by the symphony orchestra in front of you. (I won’t go into the details about how, but this short video from the Modesto Symphony conductor Ryan Murray gives you an idea).
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
The second is more like a traditional concert but comprised of film score excerpts or arrangements instead of symphonies. An example would be the Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s recent performance that included excerpts from movies such as Out of Africa, Casablanca, Dr. Zhivago, Star Trek: First Contact, and of course, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. These concerts, while endlessly enjoyable for any audience member, are a fantastic opportunity to bring someone new to the symphony. They often serve as an introduction for new listeners to symphony orchestras that may not have felt they could attend a more ‘traditional’ concert. A quick survey of most major symphony seasons will reveal that the ratio of pop/film to classical series concerts has drastically shifted, and for many, are now almost equal. So if you haven’t felt like you belong at your city’s version of Symphony Hall (for us Philadelphians, it’s the Kimmel Center), try out a film concert!
3. Pops Concerts
Similar to film concerts, pops concerts are a celebration of popular music, showcasing a wide array of genres from Broadway tunes to rock classics. These concerts offer a more relaxed and informal atmosphere, often including sing-alongs and other interactive elements. Pops concerts are designed to engage and entertain audiences, bridging the gap between classical and popular music.
Some famous orchestral pops concerts include tributes to The Beatles, performances of Broadway show tunes, and even collaborations with contemporary artists like Sting. These concerts showcase the versatility and adaptability of symphony orchestras (they are often not performed with the full orchestra but rather various subsets of players), proving that they can successfully tackle a diverse range of musical styles.
Often programmed and performed in a similar fashion to pops concerts are cross-genre collaborations and musics of the global majority. Symphonies also often perform with artists from the worlds of jazz, African drum ensembles, and vocal groups (think Ladysmith Black Mambazo as one of the most famous examples), and even electronic dance music. These innovative performances often result in unique and memorable concerts, as orchestras explore new sounds and textures. By performing music of the global majority (meaning non-white/European music), symphonies work to expose audiences to different musical traditions, fostering cultural understanding and appreciation.
4. Contemporary, New, and Experimental Music
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
In addition to the more traditional genres, many symphony orchestras have made it their mission to champion contemporary (often called “new”) and experimental music. This commitment to new music often involves commissioning and premiering works from emerging and established composers alike. These performances provide a platform for innovative musical voices and give audiences the opportunity to explore the cutting edge of symphonic music.
As I mentioned earlier, a prime example of this is the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s recent premiere of William Harvey’s Seven Decisions of Gandhi. From the program notes:
This concerto for violin and orchestra takes as its premise that we are defined by our decisions and musically explores seven decisions that made Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) the architect of India’s independence and the global nonviolence icon beloved by billions today. The work, dedicated to Gandhi’s granddaughter Ela on the occasion of her 80th birthday (July 1, 2020), was completed on June 27, 2020 in Mexico City, and based on Ramachandra Guha’s magisterial biographies, on 11 years of experience performing with and learning from musicians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, and on lessons with Abhishek Adhikary.
If you’re interested in reading more about this incredible new work, the program notes are still available here.
As I mentioned before, with Lancaster as an example, symphony orchestras are working day in and day out to diversify and expand their musical audience. Commissioning and programming music by living composers, particularly BIPOC, female, and LGBTQIA composers, allows scores of new people to feel seen and reflected in the music they hear performed by these legacy institutions.
For the sake of pith, I won’t discuss Educational, Family, and Holiday concerts here. These round out what has become the standard canon of offerings in an orchestral season.
I hope some of this has inspired you to make a trip to whatever orchestra seems right to you – be it your child’s youth orchestra, a regional orchestra like those mentioned here, or even the iconic Philadelphia Orchestra, there is always a concert to be found that can match your interests!
