The document provides an overview of the symphony, including its history, typical structure, and evolution over time. It begins by explaining that a symphony is a multi-movement musical composition for orchestra, with roots in opera overtures and concerto grosso forms from the early 18th century. It then describes the standard four-movement classical symphony form that emerged by 1770. The document concludes by tracing the symphony genre from Beethoven's revolutionary works through the romantic and modern eras to the symphonies of today.

1. MUSC 1200: Music Appreciation
The Symphony
Dr. Matthew C. Saunders
Lakeland Community College
C-1078

2. The Symphony
• Multi-movement composition for orchestra
• Roots are in opera overtures and concerto grosso
• First symphonies (sinfonias) ca. 1720
• Going “to the symphony” usually means that
someone is going to attend a concert of a
“symphony orchestra,” a group of musicians
designed to play symphonies and similar works.

3. How is a Symphony Put Together?
• Four movement form standard by 1770
1. Fast opening movement: sonata form
2. Slow movement: form varies
3. Minuet & Trio: minuet form (later scherzo)
4. Fast closing movement: rondo form

4. Sonata Form
Exposition Development Recapitulation
Frequently includes a slow introduction and/or a coda,
not shown in this diagram.

5. Variations
• Some symphonies use a variations form in the
second movement.
• Classical variations emphasize the theme
• Form is kept the same throughout the
variation

6. Minuet (Classical Dance Form)
• Minuet: Social dance from the late-Baroque
• Stylized as an instrumental movement
• Later pieces have “scherzos” instead of minuets
• Haydn, Symphony No. 94, third movement
A AB
a b a’ c d c’ a b a’
Minuet Trio Minuet (repeated)

7. Rondo Form
– Repeated “refrain” (A), with “episodes” (B and C)
in between
– Added to the symphony ca. 1770
– Haydn: Symphony No. 94, fourth movement
AAAA B B’C

8. A Complete Symphony
• See page 176 in your textbook
• Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony
No. 95 in C minor (1792)
1. Allegro moderato (sonata form)
2. Andante (variations)
3. Menuetto (minuet and trio)
4. Finale. Vivace (rondo form)

9. After the Classical Era
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
– Symphony as ultimate musical expression
– Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, first
movement
– See analysis in Course Packet
• Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
– Pioneering the Romantic symphony
– Schubert: Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished,”
1st movement

10. Symphony: The Nineteenth Century
• Classical Revival:
– Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann
– Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, “Italian,”
1st movement (1833)
• Fully Romantic Symphonists
– Johannes Brahms and Peter Tchaikovsky
– Brahms: Symphony No. 1, first movement
(1873)
• The Symphony as a World in Music
– Gustav Mahler
– Mahler: Symphony No. 5, first movement
(1905)

11. The Twentieth Century Symphony
• Continuing the Romantic tradition
– Jean Sibelius and Ralph Vaughan
Williams
– Sibelius, Symphony No.7 (1926-8)
• The Modern Symphony
– Aaron Copland and Dmitri
Shostakovich
– Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, 4th
movement (1936)
• The Symphony Today
– Philip Glass, Symphony No. 9 (2011)