Symphony instruments, 19th century symphonies were gradually augmented with more string players and more wind parts, so that the orchestra grew substantially in sheer numbers, as concert halls likewise grew. At the beginning of the 20th century, Gustav Mahler wrote long, large-scale symphonies. His Eighth Symphony, for example, was composed in 1906 and is nicknamed the "Symphony of a Thousand" because of the large number of voices required to perform the work. Additionally, his Third Symphony is one of the longest regularly performed symphonies at around 100 minutes in length for most performances. The 20th century also saw further diversification in
Symphony No. 6 (Hanson) Symphony No. 6 (Hanson) The Symphony No. 6 is an orchestral symphony in six movements by the American composer Howard Hanson. The work was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein for the orchestra's 125th anniversary. It was composed in 1967 and was given its world premiere on February 29, 1968, by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Hanson. The symphony has a duration of roughly 20 minutes and is composed in six continuous movements: The Symphony No. 6 has been praised by music critics. John von Rhein of the "Chicago Tribune" called it "one