Symphony No. 3 in D major, West Coast Pictures
Kurt Atterberg
Work background
Researched classical background
Atterberg's Third Symphony grew from musical impressions of Sweden's west coast. Its three movements bear descriptive titles commonly translated as Summer Haze, Storm and Summer Night. The outer movements give sustained melodies a large role, while the central storm supplies a contrasting concentration of motion. The final movement was completed after another stay near Lysekil in 1916.
Inspiration and creative background
Atterberg's coastal visits, including the area around Lysekil, supplied the work's landscape associations.
Chandos: Atterberg orchestral works booklet
Symphony No.3 chronology, movement titles and composer diary context | Reviewed 2026-10-19
A listening guide
Compare the orchestral movement of Storm with the longer melodic lines of the outer movements.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra
Composition: 1914-1916
Composed 1914-16; translated movement titles vary between releases.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Also known as: West Coast Pictures; Vastkustbilder
Chandos: Atterberg orchestral works booklet
Symphony No.3 chronology, movement titles and composer diary context | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Chandos: Atterberg orchestral works booklet
Symphony No.3 chronology, movement titles and composer diary context | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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