Symphony

Symphony, major form of music for orchestra. Developed from the overture, by 1800 it had 4 movements: a fairly quick movement in sonata form; a slow movement; a minuet and trio; and a quick rondo. Haydn and Mozart played a central role in developing the classical symphony. Beethoven introduced the scherzo movement and a new range of emotion. Major symphonic composers include Schubert, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruckner, Dvorák, and Mahler in the 19th century, and Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Sibelius, and Nielsen in the 20th century.

See also: Orchestra.