A Symphony: New England Holidays
Charles Ives
Work background
Researched classical background
Ives brought together four orchestral holiday portraits: Washington's Birthday, Decoration Day, The Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving and Forefathers' Day. Hymns, marches and overlapping layers evoke remembered community celebrations in New England. The movements also circulate independently, and their individual origins predate the assembled symphonic title. The sequence follows a seasonal cycle rather than a conventional four-movement tonal plan.
Inspiration and creative background
Memories of New England holidays and community music-making informed the four movements.
New World Records: Ives New England Holidays
Four holiday movements, assembly chronology and childhood associations | Reviewed 2026-10-19
A listening guide
Listen for familiar tunes layered over one another, particularly in The Fourth of July.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra with optional mixed chorus in Thanksgiving and Forefathers' Day
Composition: Circa 1904-1913
Approximate assembly period 1904-13; individual materials originated earlier and later revisions followed.
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: Holidays Symphony; New England Holidays
Date, title and version notes
The component movements have distinct composition and revision histories.
New World Records: Ives New England Holidays
Four holiday movements, assembly chronology and childhood associations | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Charles Ives Society: orchestral catalogue
Movement headings, scoring and edition identities | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
New World Records: Ives New England Holidays
Four holiday movements, assembly chronology and childhood associations | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Charles Ives Society: orchestral catalogue
Movement headings, scoring and edition identities | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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