Symphony No. 4
Bohuslav Martinu
Work background
Researched classical background
Martinu completed his Fourth Symphony in the United States in 1945 and dedicated it to Helene and William Ziegler. Its four movements include a scherzo before the slow movement, with a broad finale completing the sequence. The score belongs to the run of symphonies he wrote during his American years and uses the rhythmic flexibility and layered orchestral writing characteristic of that period.
A listening guide
Compare the active scherzo with the broader pacing of the following slow movement.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra
Composition: 1945
Autograph completion dated June 1945.
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.
Bohuslav Martinu Institute: Symphony No.4 H305
1945 work identity and source catalogue | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Bohuslav Martinu Institute: Symphony No.4 autograph
June 1945 completion and Ziegler dedication | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Bohuslav Martinu Institute: Symphony No.4 H305
1945 work identity and source catalogue | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Bohuslav Martinu Institute: Symphony No.4 autograph
June 1945 completion and Ziegler dedication | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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