Symphony No. 3, Sinfonia Espansiva

Work background

Researched classical background

Nielsen's Third Symphony adds wordless soprano and baritone voices to its second movement. They become part of the orchestral sound rather than narrators of a text. The vigorous opening movement, broad slow movement, lighter third movement and direct finale present sharply contrasted types of motion. Espansiva is an expressive designation, not the title of a literary story.