Symphony No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 13

Composer: ENESCU, George
  • Enescu’s Symphony No. 1 in E-flat Major was written in 1905 and consists of three movements:
    1. Assez vif et rythmé (Lively and rhythmic)
    2. Lent (Slow)
    3. Vif et vigoureux (Lively and vigorous)
  • Enescu dedicated Symphony No. 1 to Italian composer Alfredo Casella (Casella studied at the Paris Conservatory alongside Enescu).1
  • Fun fact – while titled as his first symphony, Enescu actually wrote four symphonies before this one while a student. This symphony can be seen as the first work written as a composer firmly established in his career.
  • The choice of the key of E-flat (and a 3/4 time signature in the opening movement) draws comparisons to Beethoven’s 3rd symphony as well as Schumann’s 3rd symphony.2

Sources

  1. “Symphony No.1, Op.13 (Enescu, George),” IMSLP, accessed August 18, 2025, https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.1%2C_Op.13_(Enescu%2C_George).
  2. Leon Botstein, “Symphony No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 13 (1905),” American Symphony Orchestra, accessed August 18, 2025, https://americansymphony.org/concert-notes/symphony-no-1-in-e-flat-major-op-13-1905/.

Cut IDs

22027 26938