A symphony is an extended musical composition written for an orchestra to play. Usually it is divided into parts, generally three or four parts, which are called movements.
The word “symphony” literally translates as 'sounding together.' It comes from the Greek words “sym” (together) and “phone” (sound).
The most prominent composer of the earliest symphonies was the Italian Giovanni Battista Sammartini (c. 1700 – January 15, 1775), who is especially associated with the formation of the concert symphony. Sammartini incorporated the fast-slow-fast movement structures to most of his symphonic works.
The most important symphonists of the latter part of the 18th century were Haydn, who wrote at least 107 symphonies over the course of 36 years and Mozart, with at least 47 symphonies in 24 years.
Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, and Mahler all died before completing a tenth symphony.
John Knowles Paine was a professor at Harvard University, occupying first chair of music in a U.S. university. His symphony, In Spring, which debuted in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1880 was the first American symphony published in the United States.
The word “symphony” literally translates as 'sounding together.' It comes from the Greek words “sym” (together) and “phone” (sound).
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| Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Bramwell Tovey. Wikipedia |
The most prominent composer of the earliest symphonies was the Italian Giovanni Battista Sammartini (c. 1700 – January 15, 1775), who is especially associated with the formation of the concert symphony. Sammartini incorporated the fast-slow-fast movement structures to most of his symphonic works.
The most important symphonists of the latter part of the 18th century were Haydn, who wrote at least 107 symphonies over the course of 36 years and Mozart, with at least 47 symphonies in 24 years.
Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, and Mahler all died before completing a tenth symphony.
John Knowles Paine was a professor at Harvard University, occupying first chair of music in a U.S. university. His symphony, In Spring, which debuted in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1880 was the first American symphony published in the United States.
Amy Beach's (1867-1944) Gaelic Symphony, premiered by the Boston Symphony in 1896, was the first symphony by an American woman.
Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1, the 'Gothic', is the longest symphony in the world at an hour and three quarters. It has only been performed six times since it was finished in 1927. It requires 200 musicians and 800 singers, including brass bands, a children’s choir, and a machine that makes thunder sounds.
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