SYMMETRY

In the Fine Arts. See Proportion. SYMPATHY, {GY.ovfA^cia-zai, I suffer with.) In Moral Philosophy, the quality of being affected by feelings common to our fellow-men. In his Theory of Moral Sentiments, Dr. Smith maintains that sympathy is the real foundation of morals. {See Virtue.) For a succinct statement of this theory, see " The Life of Dr. Smith," prefixed to MCulloch's edition of the Wealth of Nations, p. iv. In the Fine Arts, the term signifies conformity of the parts to each other; but in Painting it is more usually applied to the effective union of colours. SYMPHONY. {Gr. a-uv, with, and i <piuyyi, voice.) In Music, a composition which, from the etymology of the term, evidently implies that the voice anciently formed an e ential part of its construction. In the present day, however, the term is otherwise applied, and is exclusively used for a piece in which instruments only are engaged. It is, in fact, a composition for a perfect instrumental orchestra, which, until the beginning of the eighteenth century, was unknown. The Concerti gro i o{ CoreWi were the first of the species, which was carried out to a greater extent in the works of Gemini an i and Vivaldi; but it does not seem to us that before the time of Haydn it can be said to have a umed the form which the name now imports. There is, perhaps, no musical composition in which the power of the author is so completely developed as in a symphony. Tlie musician in it becomes a poet, or perhaps rather a painter. Scenes and tlie pa ions are represented therein by a combination of musical sounds; in illustration of which we need only cite that splendid work of Beetlioven, known to all under the name of II Pastorale. The general form of the symphony may be thus described: — It opens with a short, serious, slow movement; this is followed by and forms a contrast to one of spirit and of a lively nature; then comes an andante varied, or an adagio or slow movement; a minuet with its trio follows; and the symphony usually closes with a lively rondo, or a finale of rapid motion. SYMPHYSIS. {Gr. e-vfMpvitv, to grow together.) A term applied to the junction of certain bones, or to joints not admitting of motion; as the symphysis of the pubes. [s. 1214]