symphony

Everyday

1. A symphony is a long piece of music for a full orchestra, usually in three or four parts called movements. tree →
2. A symphony is also an orchestra that plays such music: "the London Symphony Orchestra" or just "the symphony" (US). tree →
3. A symphony of something is a rich mixture of things that go well together: "a symphony of colours". tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons pupils listen to famous symphonies by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven (Beethoven's Fifth with its "da-da-da-DUM" and his Ninth with "Ode to Joy") and learn the sections of the orchestra. In stories it is a fancy way to describe many sounds, smells or colours together. Phrases: "symphony orchestra", "a symphony of sounds", "go to the symphony".

Examples

• We listened to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in music class. tree →
• Haydn wrote more than a hundred symphonies. tree →
• The symphony orchestra has strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. tree →
• The first movement of the symphony was fast and loud. tree →
• The forest at dawn was a symphony of birdsong. tree →
• My aunt took me to the symphony for my birthday. tree →
• The kitchen smelled like a symphony of spices. tree →

Note

Plural: symphonies. Adjective: symphonic. Spelled with "ph" (sounds like f). Composers number their symphonies, so "Symphony No. 9" is the ninth.