ABSTRACT
Szymanowski’s contribution to the repertoire of orchestral music began in 1904, with his youthful Concert Overture, Op. 12. From that date on, he wrote works for or with orchestra almost to the end of his creative life. These include: four symphonies, two violin concertos, five oratorios and cantatas with orchestral accompaniment, two ballets, an operetta, an opera, stage music for a play, plus several songs that were either originally written with orchestral accompaniment or orchestrated at a later date. A full count includes 24 works, scored almost without exception for a full symphony orchestra. His friend Paweł Kochański indirectly testifies to Szymanowski’s preference for the sound of the orchestra when, upon learning that the composer was working on his First String Quartet, Op. 37 (1917), he wrote: ‘It is strange how one changes. Do you remember, you used to dislike the quartet, you said that it did not give you satisfaction, not enough sound?’ 1
