This article is about symphony and its history.
The opening of Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Beethoven
A symphony is a very large musical composition in classical music, scored all kinds of instruments in orchestra and has at least one movement or more.
Form
1. First movement Always scored in fast tempo called in Italian Allegro. Some symphonies have introduction. Composed in sonata form.
2. Second movement Slow tempo.
3. Third movement Dance rhythm minuet. (in triple time such as 3/4) , traditional dances, or funny rhythm scherzo.
4. Fourth movement Sonata or rondo form.
Most symphonies have four movements. However, depending to composers, not all of symphonies accord to the form mentioned above, especially in Romantic period, which many composers expressed their feelings and emotions to songs. Example: Sibelius' Symphony No.7 has only one movement. Beethoven's Symphony No.6 "Pastoral" has five movements.
Origin
The word symphony is derived from the greek word symphonia, meaning "concord of sound". Many musicians from Renaissance through Baroque tried to developed this kind of song. They wrote symphonies by use forms of Italian-style opera overtures: fast-slow-fast. After it became popular, composers wrote overture-like form symphonies.
The instrument arrangement weren't definite until Classical period, led by Joseph Haydn, "Father of Symphonies". He developed and composed 104 symphonies. These symphonies was highly developed in the Classical.
After that, many composers like Beethoven often wrote and developed classical symphonies such as using scherzo as the third movement instead of minuet, adding instruments, and moreover, he added chorus part in the last movement of his ninth and last symphony.
Then, many Romantic composers composed very long, expressionism, and hard-to-listen symphonies, specially Mahler's. That because instruments' technologies were developed so much that composers can write very complicated symphonies. Also it depends to time or history, especially in Romantic period that composers to write songs with their feelings and ideas.
Recommended songsThe instrument arrangement weren't definite until Classical period, led by Joseph Haydn, "Father of Symphonies". He developed and composed 104 symphonies. These symphonies was highly developed in the Classical.
After that, many composers like Beethoven often wrote and developed classical symphonies such as using scherzo as the third movement instead of minuet, adding instruments, and moreover, he added chorus part in the last movement of his ninth and last symphony.
Then, many Romantic composers composed very long, expressionism, and hard-to-listen symphonies, specially Mahler's. That because instruments' technologies were developed so much that composers can write very complicated symphonies. Also it depends to time or history, especially in Romantic period that composers to write songs with their feelings and ideas.
Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Beethoven - very famous symphony in the world.
Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550 by Mozart
