A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often written by composers for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning common today: a work usually consisting of multiple distinct sections or movements, often four, with the first movement in sonata form. Symphonies are scored for string (violin, viola, cello and double bass), brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments which altogether number about 30–100 musicians. Symphonies are notated in a musical score, which contains all the instrument parts. Orchestral musicians play from parts which contain just the notated music for their instrument. A small number of symphonies also contain vocal parts (e.g., Beethoven's Ninth Symphony).
The word symphony is derived from Greek συμφωνία (symphonia), meaning "agreement or concord of sound", "concert of vocal or instrumental music", from σύμφωνος (symphōnos), "harmonious". The word referred to an astonishing variety of different things, before ultimately settling on its current meaning designating a musical form.
Bechara El Khoury's Symphony, subtitled The Ruins of Beirut, was composed in 1985. It was the third of a series of works inspired in the ongoing Lebanese Civil War, being preceded by tone poem Lebanon in flames and a Requiem. It is composed of four movements, marked Drammatico, Misterioso, Poetico and Tragique.
It was recorded for Naxos Records in 2002 by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Vladimir Sirenko.
Review at Gramophone, February 2003.
The League of American Orchestras, formerly the American Symphony Orchestra League, is a North American Musical Organization consisting of a network of approximately 800 orchestras. “Dedicated to helping orchestras meet the challenges of the twenty-first century,” the League consists of leading symphony and philharmonic orchestras, collegiate orchestras, community ensembles, and youth and student ensembles. The only national organization devoted and focused on elevating the orchestra industry, the League was founded in 1942 and later chartered by Congress in 1962. The League creates a network of all facets of the industry, including administrators, managers, board members, business partners, volunteers, and musicians. Each year this organization presents two awards: the Gold Baton Award and the Helen M. Thompson Award. The League affects the orchestral world through several outreach experiences, dedicated advocacy to music education and especially orchestral education, and maintaining and communicating a breadth of information and pertinent topics in publications. It has also developed detailed antitrust policy and guidelines in order to comply with the landscape of the industry. The League is a leading force in work on legislation regarding orchestras and support for the arts.
[Verse 1:]
I thought I knew it all
I was too strong to fall that deep
I was so naive
But you knew all along
So you waited patiently
For my eyes to see
[Pre-Chorus 1:]
Now my arms are open wide
And my heart is filled inside
There is only you, you're all that's on my mind
[Chorus:]
So stay here til tomorrow
Well last forever & a day
There's no plan left to follow
When you're wrapped up in loves embrace
I'll never cause you sorrow
So won't you take this leap of faith
Before my heart was hollow
Now lifes the sweetest symphony
[Verse 2:]
Musics playing in my head
Every word you said to me
Is a melody
I lay awake up in my bed
And thank the Lord for saving me
You set me free
[Pre-Chorus 2:]
Now here come the strings
They play and my heart sings
I feel your love; it's washing over me
[Chorus]
[Break]
[Pre-Chorus 3:]
Always had one special wish
That someday Id feel like this