Ludwig van Beethoven's Coriolan Overture was composed in 1807 and was inspired by the tragedy Coriolan by Heinrich Joseph von Collin. Originally a Shakespearean play, the story follows a Roman general, Gaius Marcius Coriolanus, as he is forced into exile after turning against Rome. Later on, when he leads an army toward the city, his family pleads with him to stop, forcing him to contemplate gaining revenge or his love for his family.

The work opens with powerful, dramatic chords that create a sense of determination and anger. The theme that follows is assertive and full of energy, while the contrasting motif is more lyrical, suggesting a more emotional side of Coriolan. Beethoven moves between these ideas, which give off a feeling of struggle and uncertainty.

The work ends quietly, suggesting that Beethoven favored Collin's ending, where the general kills himself, rather than Shakespeare's ending, where he is murdered. Although originally written for the play, the work can also be performed independently. Beethoven uses strong, contrasting ideas to tell the story without words. The resulting work features themes of power, conflict, and loyalty.

Before departing for a trip with a close friend, Elgar's fiancée, Alice Roberts, handed him a short poem. This poem, called Love's Grace, quickly captivated Elgar and made him feel so special that he in turn wrote a song called Liebesgruß (Love's Greeting).

Elgar eventually sold the piece to Schott, a music publisher; however, the piece did not sell well with its original German title. The publisher eventually changed the title to Salut d'Amour, hoping that a French title would bring in sales. This change worked, but none of the money was ever seen by Elgar.

While listening to the piece, pay close attention to the sweet consistency of the melody, demonstrating how the presence of true love can be expressed through music.

Erik Satie composed the Gymnopédies in 1888, with No. 1 becoming the most well-known of the three. The title refers to an ancient Greek festival called the Gymnopaedia, although it does not attempt to reference ancient Greek music. Rather, the atmosphere is calm and surreal through its simple melodies and gentle rhythms.

While originally composed for solo piano, Claude Debussy orchestrated the piece for a larger ensemble. The orchestration adds warmth and color while also keeping the peacefulness of the original. The result is a soft, floating sound that allows for the melody to remain the focus.

This piece is known for its slower tempo and relaxed character. There is no true climax, but rather the music remains restrained and reflective. The combination of Satie's simplicity and Debussy's delicate orchestration creates feelings of nostalgia and stillness amid the busyness of life.

Edvard Grieg composed this music for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt in 1875. The play follows Peer Gynt, whose adventures take him around the world in search of excitement, success, and ultimately a sense of self. Grieg's accompanying music helps to bring the whole story to life.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 was arranged using four sections of the original incidental music. It opens with "Morning Mood," which creates a peaceful picture of sunrise. "The Death of Åse" follows with a slow, emotional melody. "Anitra's Dance" provides a lighter, more graceful contrast. The suite ends with "In the Hall of the Mountain King," which features a mysterious and exciting march to conclude the work.

The suite demonstrates Grieg's use of color, melody, and drastically contrasting moods to tell a story through music. Each movement creates a different atmosphere, perfectly encapsulating the listener in the world. The work remains one of Grieg's most recognizable compositions to this day and an important example of Norwegian Romantic music.

Richard Strauss composed his Serenade in E-flat major in 1881 when he was just 17 years old. Written for 13 wind instruments, the piece showcases Strauss's early talent and developing compositional tone. He would later become famous for his larger orchestral works, but the Serenade beautifully demonstrates his ability to create expressive music with a smaller ensemble.

This work particularly features Strauss's Romantic style through the use of rich harmonies and lyrical melodies. The music moves effortlessly between energetic sections and graceful singing passages. This allows the instruments to take turns presenting the musical themes.

This is an excellent example of Strauss's early development as a composer. While its elegance and balance point it toward the Classical tradition, the warmer harmonies and expressiveness point it toward a more dramatic style that characterizes Strauss's later compositions.

This lively and militaristic piece was premiered on February 15, 1846. It features music associated with Ferenc Rákóczi, a prominent national hero in Hungary.

The compositional credit for the original melodies is not agreed upon by scholars. The march was popularized through its association with Rákóczi and the armies he led. It has also been sung by Hungarian citizens since the 18th century.

The march went through many evolutions and eventually found itself in the hands of Hector Berlioz, a French Romantic-era composer. Berlioz decided the march should be featured while preparing for a performance of The Damnation of Faust, a work he called a "dramatic legend."

His arrangement of the march was enthusiastically received by Hungarian audiences and brought a distinctly Hungarian character to Berlioz's interpretation of the Faust story.

Johann Strauss II's Blue Danube Waltz was premiered on February 15, 1867, in Vienna, Austria. The popularity of this waltz cannot be overstated. It has been featured in multiple forms of media, and it even serves as the unofficial Austrian national anthem.

It is no wonder that this waltz gained so much traction, as it was composed by the King of Waltzes. Johann Strauss Sr. helped popularize the waltz, leaving it to his son, Johann Strauss II, to develop it further for the concert hall. Both produced waltzes at a remarkable rate.

The Blue Danube Waltz was written to cheer up Viennese citizens after the Prussians defeated Austria. When listening, imagine the sparkling waters that Strauss conveyed in music to remind Austrians of their pride in their home. Feel the lilting melody and travel to the soft grasses of a sunny bank while admiring one of Europe's great rivers.

George Gershwin began his music career on Tin Pan Alley as a song plugger for a publishing firm. After growing in his musicianship from constant playing for customers, Gershwin moved to Broadway. However, Rhapsody in Blue is what gave Gershwin his everlasting fame.

The piece was written for Paul Whiteman's "Experiment in Modern Music." This concert was meant to demonstrate how jazz could be further amplified through a symphonic setting. Gershwin wrote Rhapsody in Blue on his upright piano, later handing it off to be orchestrated for symphonic playing purposes.

Gershwin described the piece as a musical portrait of America's energy and diversity. One of the most notable sections of this piece is at the beginning with the glissando of the clarinet. Its sumptuous movement introduces the character of the piece and places the listener within a sound world that flows like a lazy river. This solo is now one of the most famous clarinet solos in the orchestral repertoire.