Ferdinand Ries wrote his Symphony No. 7 in A minor, Op. 181, in 1835. It is the last symphony that Ries wrote. It is Beethovian in style, and specifically influenced by Beethovens's seventh, sixth ("Pastorale"), and third ("Eroica") symphonies.
This symphony is written in four movements and is scored for an orchestra.
His symphonies were numbered, on the whole, in order, not of composition, but of publication and/or first performance in England.
Op.181 was also applied, by the publisher Schuberth, to Ries' Introduction et Rondeau à la Zingaresco for piano published in 1838. The 1860s Abschrift parts (manuscript copy) held at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin use Op.181 to describe the symphony, though.
Movements
- Allegro con spirito
- Larghetto con moto
- Scherzo Allegro non troppo
- Largo – Finale: Allegro vivace
The lively finale (fourth movement) has a distinct Rossinian and Neapolitan feel to it, and the scherzo (third movement) has a Lisztian start to it.