svmphony, simphonie, sumfonye, symphonie

[Fr. symphonie, from Lat.symphonia; Gr. symphonia=music, harmony, from symphōnos agreeing in sound; harmonious; sym, for syn with, and phone =sound.] I. Ord. Lang.: A consonance or harmony of sounds, vocal or instrumental, or both, which are agreeable to the ear. II. Music : 1. A composition for an orchestra, similar in construction to the sonata, which is usually for a single instrument. A symphony has several varied movements, generally four, never le than three. The first, an allegro; the second, a largo, or andante; the third, a scherzo, or minuet and trio; and the fourth, an allegro. The form of the first and last movement is usually the same as that of the sonata. The scherzo, or the minuet, in some symphonies is placed before, instead of after, the slow movement. 2. Formerly overtures were called symphonies. Handel called the overture "Sinfonica," and it was a com in on practice in his time to name any long instrumental piece after this manner. 3. The introductory, intermediate, and concluding instrumental parts of a song or other vocal piece are also called symphonies. *4. A name anciently given to certain musical in struments, as the virginal and bagpipe.