About this edition
Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 — the "Sinfonia Espansiva" — is one of the great symphonic statements of the early twentieth century, radiating a physical, outward-reaching energy that gives the work its name. Composed in 1910–11 and premiered by Nielsen himself in Copenhagen in February 1912 on the same program as his Violin Concerto, the symphony is perhaps best remembered for its extraordinary second movement, in which a soprano and baritone sing wordless, vocalise lines that drift above the orchestra like distant voices in a pastoral landscape. Bold, expansive, and unmistakably Nielsen, this symphony remains a cornerstone of the Danish orchestral repertoire and a favorite of conductors seeking to bring its rugged optimism to new audiences.
This edition reproduces the full orchestral score as issued by C.F. Kahnt of Leipzig in 1913 (plate number 7039), the first published edition of the work, brought out within a year of its premiere. Kahnt was among the most respected German music publishing houses of its era, and its edition of the Espansiva served as the score through which the symphony first became known beyond Denmark, engraved to the exacting standards expected of a major continental publisher of the period. As the earliest published source for the work, it remains a valuable reference point for conductors and scholars studying Nielsen's orchestration and notation.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Reproduced from a public domain historical source
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
Because the original 1913 Kahnt score has long since entered the public domain, we're able to bring this historic edition back into print — affordably and faithfully — so that conductors, orchestral musicians, students, and Nielsen enthusiasts alike can hold a piece of publishing history in their hands.