 
The Symphony No. 3, H. 299, is an orchestral composition by the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů.
History.
Martinů composed his Third Symphony during a summer retreat in Ridgefield, Connecticut from 2 May to 14 June 1944. The composition was not the result of a commission, but rather was a spontaneous gesture, and is dedicated to Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, on the twentieth anniversary of their association. It was premiered in Boston, Massachusetts on 12 October 1945 by the dedicatees.
The second movement is dated 26 May 1944, and so it is very probable that he was working on the finale when news was received of the Allied landing in Normandy on 6 June. Although this has sometimes been interpreted as an influence on the joyful turn taken in this movement, it is also possible that the overall design of the symphony had been established much earlier.
The second movement contains thematic and harmonic material identical to the slow movement of the Piano Quintet No. 2, which had been written immediately before the symphony.
Instrumentation.
The symphony is scored for two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, cor anglais, three clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (three players: cymbals, tam-tam, triangle, bass drum, side drum), harp, piano, and strings.
Analysis.
The symphony is in three movements:
The symphony begins in the dark key of E♭ minor and progresses to the bright sound of E major at the close of the finale.
References.
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