Art of the Symphony

From the ancient Greek for ‘sounded harmoniously’, the words ‘sinfonia’ and ‘symphony’ have been used for centuries.

Leonora Duarte, a Flemish composer who died before Bach was born, used it to describe her haunting works for viol ensemble. Johann Stamitz was a visionary, writing some of the first works that are recognisably modern symphonies. Haydn wrote over 100 symphonies building on Stamitz’s innovations.

Fast-forward to Britten’s youthfully delightful Simple Symphony, and finally to our commission of Australian composer Caerwen Martin, whose music reflecting on the sinfonias of Duarte brings us full circle.