A symphony is an extended instrumental work, typically intended to be performed by an orchestra. Over the past few centuries, it has evolved from the Italian overture, to the Classical symphony and to the descriptive programmatic symphony. Although there can be a varying number of movements and the form of these movements are not strict, a common theme between all symphonies is that at the conclusion of each movement bar the last one, the listeners are left with a sense of incompletion, and only when the grand, final movement is played, is the emotional and intellectual journey complete.
Origins of symphony
During the early 1700s, several composers were experimenting and the Italian opera overture, otherwise known as a sinfonia, evolved