Sinfonia

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Sinfonia ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; plural sinfonie) is the Italian word for symphony, from the Latin symphonia, in turn derived from Ancient Greek συμφωνία symphōnia (agreement or concord of sound), from the prefix σύν (together) and Φωνή (sound). In English it most commonly refers to a 17th- or 18th-century orchestral piece used as an introduction, interlude, or postlude to an opera, oratorio, cantata, or suite (Template:Harvnb, who gives the origin of the word as Italian) Template:HarvTemplate:Failed verification. The word is also found in other Romance languages such as Spanish or Portuguese.

In the Middle Ages down to as late as 1588, it was also the Italian name for the hurdy-gurdy Template:Harv. Johann Sebastian Bach used the term for his keyboard compositions also known as Three-part Inventions, and after about 1800, the term, when in reference to opera, meant "Overture" Template:Harv.

In George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah (HWV 56), "Overture to the Messiah" (French Overture in E minor) was originally titled "Sinfony".

In the 20th and 21st centuries it is found in the names of some chamber orchestras, often pronounced with stress on the second syllable ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}), such as the Northern Sinfonia Template:Harv.

Sinfonias in the vocal works by Johann Sebastian Bach

Work	Movement	Related instrumental work	Movement
Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4	1
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12	1
Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt, BWV 18	1
Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21	1
Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29	1	Partita for Violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>|| 1
Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35	1	Concerto in D minor (fragment), BWV 1059 Template:Harv
Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35	5	Probably the same lost work as BWV 35/1 Template:Harv
Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42	1
Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49	1	Keyboard Concerto No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 3
Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV 52	1	Sinfonia in F major (early version of Brandenburg Concerto No. 1), BWV 1046a<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1
Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75	8
Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76	8	Organ Sonata No. 4 in E minor, BWV 528<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1
Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge, BWV 120a	4	Partita for Violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1
Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146	1	Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052 Template:Harv	1
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150	1
Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152	1
Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe, BWV 156	1	Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2
Gott soll allein mein Herze haben, BWV 169	1	Keyboard Concerto No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1
Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174	1	Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1
Ich habe meine Zuversicht, BWV 188	1	Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 3
Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196	1
Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209	1
St John Passion (third version), BWV 245	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ||
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248	Part II, 1
Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 Entfliehet, verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, BWV 249a	1

The opening movements of cantatas BWV 31 and BWV 182<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> are named "sonata" and the first movement of cantata BWV 106 "sonatina".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sinfonia in D major, BWV 1045 is considered a sinfonia of a lost cantata, because its manuscript indicates that the piece had four vocal parts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Symphony with an alternative scope

Examples of such "sinfonias" composed after the classical era include:

• Vincent d'Indy wrote a Sinfonia brevis de bello Gallico, Latin for: "Short Symphony about the War in Gaul".Template:Citation needed
• Igor Stravinsky titled the first movement of his 1923 Octet "Sinfonia".
• Benjamin Britten's 1940 Sinfonia da Requiem

See also

• Sinfonia concertante
• Sinfonietta (symphony)
• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
• Overture

Sources

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External links

• A selection of sinfonias (from the Mutopia project)