Symphony Edward Elgar, Gustav Mahler, Jean Sibelius, Carl Nielsen, Igor Stravinsky, Bohuslav Martinů, Roger Sessions, and Dmitri Shostakovich composed symphonies "extraordinary in scope, richness, originality, and urgency of expression" (Steinberg 1995, 404). One measure of the significance of a symphony is the degree to which it reflects conceptions of temporal form particular to the age in which it was created. Five composers from across the span of the 20th century who fulfil this measure are Sibelius, Stravinsky, Luciano Berio (in his Sinfonia, 1968–69), Elliott Carter (in his "Symphony of Three Orchestras", 1976), and Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen (in "Symphony/Antiphony", 1980). Beginning in the
Symphony No. 2 (Harbison) clarity of texture in the first movement drawn from the full resources of a large orchestra, this symphony is a feast for the ears..." Symphony No. 2 (Harbison) The Symphony No. 2 is an orchestral composition by the American composer John Harbison. The work was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony for its 75th anniversary. It was composed in 1987. The symphony has a duration of roughly 23 minutes and is composed in four connected movements: The work is scored for a large orchestra comprising three flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet,