Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
00:05 I. Lento
12:51 II. Sostenuto
23:04 III. Scherzo, vivo
21:22 IV. Commodo
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz (German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate) conducted by Ari Rasilainen
Ahmet Adnan Saygun (1907-1991) was a Turkish composer, the most famous of the "Turkish Five" who combined the Western classical tradition with Turkish folk music. During Saygun's lifetime, his work was widely performed across Turkey, Europe, and North America by leading ensembles like the NBC Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, and Juilliard String Quartet. Read more about Saygun on my blog: unknowncomposers.org/2020/08/15/ahmet-adnan-saygun-a-pioneer-who-brought-together-romanticism-western-modernism-and-turkish-folk-song
While retaining many fundamental ideas from his characteristic harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic use of Turkish folk music, Saygun's third symphony differs from his first two essays in the genre in its bolder, more colorful orchestration, less tight construction, and often sharper textures. Another piece worth comparing is his viola concerto; I have linked to my score video of that work as well as his first two symphonies in the comments.
00:05 I. Lento
12:51 II. Sostenuto
23:04 III. Scherzo, vivo
21:22 IV. Commodo
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz (German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate) conducted by Ari Rasilainen
Ahmet Adnan Saygun (1907-1991) was a Turkish composer, the most famous of the "Turkish Five" who combined the Western classical tradition with Turkish folk music. During Saygun's lifetime, his work was widely performed across Turkey, Europe, and North America by leading ensembles like the NBC Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, and Juilliard String Quartet. Read more about Saygun on my blog: unknowncomposers.org/2020/08/15/ahmet-adnan-saygun-a-pioneer-who-brought-together-romanticism-western-modernism-and-turkish-folk-song
While retaining many fundamental ideas from his characteristic harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic use of Turkish folk music, Saygun's third symphony differs from his first two essays in the genre in its bolder, more colorful orchestration, less tight construction, and often sharper textures. Another piece worth comparing is his viola concerto; I have linked to my score video of that work as well as his first two symphonies in the comments.
