Pieces › Amy Beach

Symphony in E minor “Gaelic”, Op. 32

I. Allegro con fuoco

Amy Beach · 1894–96 · A major · 555 bars · 534 chords analysed

The first symphony by an American woman to be published and performed, premiered by the Boston Symphony in 1896. Beach built it on Irish folk tunes in answer to Dvořák's advice that American composers should use native melodies.

Keys visited: A major, E minor, A minor, G major, G minor, C minor, D minor, B minor, B major, B♭ major, A♯ minor, D♯ minor, F minor, F♯ minor, G♯ minor, C♯ minor, A♭ major, A♭ minor, E major, C major.