It is scored for three flutes (the third doubling piccolo), oboe, English horn, three clarinets (switching between B flat and A instruments), two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbals, snare drum, bass drum, two harps,[1] first and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses.
[4] The piece is in four movements: Sketching began in 1864 but the first performance, with Balakirev himself conducting, did not take place until 1898.
In December 1955, Sir Thomas Beecham and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra made the first stereo recording in the U.K..
There is also a recording of a concert performance with Beecham conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
A modern recording by the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Igor Golovschin, is also available, as well as one from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with Vassily Sinaisky as conductor.