Mendelssohn's three greatest symphonies -- among the most performed and
best-loved in the orchestral repertoire -- are presented here in one
handsome, authoritative volume. This modestly priced compilation is
essential for music students, conductors, and other music lovers.
Known as the Scottish Symphony, Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, was
inspired by a trip to the highlands and dedicated to Queen Victoria. Its
lively second movement is derived from Scottish folk music. Also
inspired by the composer's travels, Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90,
is commonly known as the Italian Symphony and evokes the sunny
peninsula's color and atmosphere. Symphony No. 5 in D Major, Op. 107,
called the Reformation Symphony, was written in 1832 to commemorate the
300th anniversary of Martin Luther's Augsburg Confession, the momentous
document that formed the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation. All
three works appear here in definitive Breitkopf and Härtel editions.