sinfonias
Sinfonia (plural sinfonias) is a term from Italian meaning “sounding together” and historically used to designate an instrumental musical form in the Baroque and early Classical periods. In Italian usage, sinfonia referred to orchestral music that could function as an overture, interlude, or standalone instrumental piece. During the 17th and early 18th centuries, sinfonias were commonly used as preludes or introductions to operas, oratorios, and cantatas, typically featuring an opening section that leads into contrasting material, with the exact structure varying by composer and context. The term was often part of the piece’s title or used descriptively, rather than signaling a fixed formal scheme.
As the symphony evolved in the mid-18th century, composers in Italy, Austria, and Germany began writing longer,
In modern usage, the term sinfonia is largely historical or stylistic, appearing in scholarship about Baroque