Adventures with Beethoven
Scene Four
Symphony No. 1 - What’s in a Name?
Tonight we’re going to a concert performed by Skagit Symphony!
What are they playing?
A symphony!
Confusing, right? A symphony is one of the most common forms of western classical music. Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies, Mozart wrote 41, and Haydn wrote 104! Symphonies usually are played by a large group of musicians, which are sometimes called a symphony as well. This group of players can also be a philharmonic or an orchestra or a symphony orchestra or a philharmonic orchestra. That just makes it even more confusing! The following sections are going to try and clear up all of this, so you can enjoy your next performance of a Beethoven symphony by Skagit Symphony!
Skagit Symphony, March 2022
What is a Symphony?
A symphony in its most basic definition is a lengthy musical composition written for performance by a large instrumental group. Usually, a symphony features four movements. Typically, the first movement is in sonata form, the second is slower and more lyrical, and the third is a minuet and trio or scherzo and trio. The final movement can be a bit more varied, sometimes featuring sonata form again, a rondo, or a different form entirely. Symphonies are typically played by an orchestra featuring multiple string instruments, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The number of performers varies based on the composer’s preferences. Some symphonies require only about 30 musicians, while others can utilize up to 100.