symphonies
Orchestral musical works
Symphonies is the plural of symphony—a large-scale orchestral composition typically in four movements.
Major orchestras build their seasons around symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler.
The word extends to anything elaborate and harmonious: a symphony of flavors, the symphony of a city waking up.
A symphony orchestra is one large enough to perform such works.
German classical music giant
- MozartEighteenth-century Austrian composer
- MahlerAustrian composer-conductor
- BrahmsRomantic German composer
- DvořákCzech Romantic composer
Tchaikovsky · Haydn · Sibelius · Bruckner · Shostakovich · Mendelssohn · Schubert · Schumann
Large instrumental ensemble
- conductorOne who directs musicians
- magnificenceImpressive beauty or scale
- monumentalityImposing scale and permanence
- epicImpressively grand in scope
majesty · splendor · grandeur · nobility · vastness · sweep · drama · power
Changes in position
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- opusNumbered artistic creation
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
- overtureIntroductory orchestral piece
concerto · fugue · rhapsody · minuet · adagio · allegro · scherzo · coda
Simultaneous independent melodic lines
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- orchestrationScoring for instrumental ensemble
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
chords · tonality · timbre · dynamics · dissonance · consonance · modulation · homophony
Pity-evoking quality
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- exhilarationIntense joyful excitement
serenity · passion · sorrow · joy · ecstasy · tranquility · poignancy · elation
Beethoven
German classical music giant
- MozartEighteenth-century Austrian composer
- MahlerAustrian composer-conductor
- BrahmsRomantic German composer
Tchaikovsky · Haydn · Dvořák · Sibelius · Bruckner · Shostakovich · Mendelssohn · Schubert · Schumann · Rachmaninoff
orchestra
Large instrumental ensemble
- conductorOne who directs musicians
- magnificenceImpressive beauty or scale
- monumentalityImposing scale and permanence
epic · majesty · splendor · grandeur · nobility · vastness · sweep · drama · power · resonance
movements
Changes in position
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- opusNumbered artistic creation
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
overture · concerto · fugue · rhapsody · minuet · adagio · allegro · scherzo · coda · exposition
polyphony
Simultaneous independent melodic lines
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- orchestrationScoring for instrumental ensemble
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
melody · chords · tonality · timbre · dynamics · dissonance · consonance · modulation · homophony · atonality
pathos
Pity-evoking quality
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- longingIntense, persistent desire
exhilaration · serenity · passion · sorrow · joy · ecstasy · tranquility · poignancy · elation · fervor
- old musicold songs, classical music, traditional tunes, folk songs, hymns
- Late RomanticismMahler, Brahms, Wagner, Bruckner, Tchaikovsky
- artsartist, creativity, expression, songs, painting
- creative worksbooks, autobiography, memoir, novels, diary
- performing artsacting, dance, music, drama, theater
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
symphoniessolos
Single-performer pieces
duets · trios · quartets · miniatures · bagatelles
symphoniesjingles
Brief advertising melodies
ditties · ringtones · fragments · sketches · simple melodies
symphoniesfolk songs
Inherited communal music
jam sessions · pop songs · improvisations · work songs · chants
- symphonic musicLarge-scale orchestral compositions
- symphonic bandLarge wind instrument orchestra
- symphonic rockRock fused with classical
- Beethoven symphoniesNine major orchestral compositions
- symphonic poemProgrammatic orchestral composition