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Re: Types or Forms of Symphony University of Delaware
Lyle K. Neff (lylekneff@netscape.net) 2003/10/27 11:03

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From: "Lyle K. Neff" <lylekneff@netscape.net>
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Subject: Re: Types or Forms of Symphony
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 13:03:18 -0500
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NorthEast wrote:
> Newbie question here.  What are the various forms of symphonies?  I
> have looked in music texts and online, but the information is either
> not there or is buried.  Thanks for any help.

Since the later responses under this topic seem to indicate that
you're looking for types or sub-genres of symphony (symphony being the
overall genre), I can think of the below off the top of my head; some
of these are ways of categorizing that might not quite qualify as a
"type", but I find them interesting nevertheless.

Types by overall form:

 Complete symphonies in one or more movements
 Incomplete (Schubert, Borodin, etc.)
 Symphonies without thematic/motivic links among movements
 Symphonies with thematic/motivic links among movements
 Symphonies linked with one another as part of larger conception
(e.g., Mahler's #1-4 as a tetralogy)

Types by content:

 Abstract
 Programmatic (program might be hidden or irrelevant)
 Nationalistic or patriotic

Types by performing forces:

 Symphonies for full orchestra
 Chamber symphonies (string orchestra, small orch., etc.)
 Symphonies for band (Hindemith, etc.)
 Symphonies with vocal parts (solo or chorus)
 Symphonies with prominent solo instrumental parts
 Organ (Widor, etc.)
 Piano (Alkan)

Types by performance venue:

 Multi-movement introduction for an opera or other big vocal work
(Italian "sinfonia" in baroque period; could be detached and played in
concert)
 Concert symphonies

Types that form hybrids with other genres:

 with cantata or oratorio (Mendelssohn's "Lobgesang")
 with concerto (symphonie concertante, Berlioz, Lalo)

I'll stop now.

:)

Best,

lkn
--
Lyle K. Neff -- mailto:lylekneff@netscape.net
http://copland.udel.edu/~lneff


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