Sinfonia

Sinfonia is the Italian term for a symphony. The word, derived from Greek roots via Latin, has been used in music history to denote a range of instrumental works rather than a single fixed form. In practice, sinfonia historically referred both to overture-like pieces accompanying vocal or stage works and to standalone instrumental compositions.

In the Baroque and early Classical periods, sinfonias were versatile instrumental works performed by ensembles of various sizes. They could function as preludes, interludes between acts, or independent concert pieces. The designation was common in Italy and in neighboring regions, and the music often exhibited contrasts of tempo and texture typical of orchestral writing of the era.

By the mid-18th century, the term began to give way to the more standardized term symphony in many languages, as the four-movement structure and broader orchestral purpose of the genre became established. In Italy, composers such as Giovanni Battista Sammartini and his contemporaries wrote works labeled Sinfonia that are usually considered early symphonies in the development toward the Classical model. Thus, sinfonia is understood today as a historical label with overlapping meanings: in some cases an overture or interlude; in others, an early form of the orchestral multi-movement work that would evolve into the modern symphony.

In modern scholarship, the term is primarily used to describe historical practice and nomenclature rather than a distinct, current musical form. It is often encountered in discussions of Baroque and early Classical orchestral music and in the study of the evolution of the symphony.