Sinfonia
A symphony or orchestral introduction — a large-scale work for full orchestra in multiple movements
Category
form
Pronunciation
sin-foh-NEE-ah
Origin
Italian
Length
80 words · 1 min read
About Sinfonia
Sinfonia originally meant an orchestral overture or introduction to an opera. By Haydn's time, it had evolved into the symphony — a four-movement work for orchestra that became the supreme test of a composer's skill.
More form terms
Fine
View all formterms →The end; the point at which the piece concludes.
AttaccaProceed to the next movement without pause.
MovementA self-contained section within a larger multi-part composition such as a symphony or concerto
VoltaTurn; used in repeat structures (prima volta, seconda volta).
CadenzaA virtuosic solo passage, often improvised, near the end of a movement.
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →