François-Joseph Gossec

Military Symphony

François-Joseph Gossec (1734 - 1829) was one of the principal composers of 18th-century France, whose symphonies and chamber works helped shape the orchestral forms of the Classical period. Gossec was a versatile and prolific composer - particularly of instrumental music, as exemplified by his symphonies and string quartets. He enlarged the expressive capabilities of the orchestra, relying on his harmonic imagination and sense of sound texture; in many ways his experiments presage the works of Haydn and Beethoven. Gossec composed also some works for military orchestra's. One of these is the 'Military Symphony' (Symphonie Militaire) which is even quite well known nowadays. Italian arranger Matteo Firmi arranged this symphony for a small wind ensemble.