Symphony No. 1 in D major, Classical
Sergei Prokofiev
Work background
Researched classical background
Prokofiev used eighteenth-century symphonic proportions as a starting point for this short four-movement work. Its compact orchestra, clear phrases and dance movement recall Haydn, while sudden harmonic turns and displaced accents identify Prokofiev's own language. The third movement is a gavotte rather than a minuet, and the finale brings the experiment to a rapid close.
Inspiration and creative background
Prokofiev imagined how Haydn might compose using the resources of a later musical age.
Boosey & Hawkes: Prokofiev Classical Symphony
1917 composition, catalogue and compositional intention | Reviewed 2026-10-19
A listening guide
Listen for unexpected harmonic turns inside apparently regular Classical phrases.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra with paired woodwinds, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings
Composition: 1917
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: Classical Symphony
Boosey & Hawkes: Prokofiev Classical Symphony
1917 composition, catalogue and compositional intention | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski: Prokofiev work catalogue
Dates, opuses, versions, instrumentation and source-work relationships | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Boosey & Hawkes: Prokofiev Classical Symphony
1917 composition, catalogue and compositional intention | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski: Prokofiev work catalogue
Dates, opuses, versions, instrumentation and source-work relationships | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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