Symphonies Transcribed to Piano Solo
Beethoven Eroica Symphony No. 3
Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, in E-flat major, Opus 55, is also known as the Eroica (Italian for "heroic") and was composed in 1804. The work is a milestone in the history of the symphony, and is often cited as the beginning of the Romantic period in music.
Beethoven had originally planned to dedicate the symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte, but later changed his mind. According to Beethoven's pupil and assistant, Ferdinand Ries:
"In writing this symphony Beethoven had been thinking of Buonaparte, but Buonaparte while he was First Consul. At that time Beethoven had the highest esteem for him and compared him to the greatest consuls of ancient Rome. Not only I, but many of Beethoven's closer friends, saw this symphony on his table, beautifully copied in manuscript, with the word "Buonaparte" inscribed at the very top of the title-page and "Ludwig van Beethoven" at the very bottom. ... I was the first to tell him the news that Buonaparte had declared himself Emperor, whereupon he broke into a rage and exclaimed, "So he is no more than a common mortal! Now, too, he will tread under foot all the rights of man, indulge only his ambition; now he will think himself superior to all men, become a tyrant!" Beethoven went to the table, seized the top of the title-page, tore it in half and threw it on the floor. The page had to be recopied and it was only now that the symphony received the title "Sinfonia eroica.""
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (separate webpage)
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
2nd mvt Pauer arrangement Part 1 Part 2
Dvorak New World Symphony (separate webpage)
Haydn Surprise Symphony (separate webpage)