| | Symphony Orchestras - The Classical Music Beat (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07) |
 | | Full size orchestras may sometimes be called "symphony orchestras" or "philharmonic orchestras"; these prefixes do not indicate any difference either to the instrumental content or role of the orchestra, but can be useful to distinguish different orchestras based in the same city (for instance, the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra). |
 | | Nowadays, the musicians are usually led by a conductor, although early orchestras did not have one, instead being led by the principal violinst or the harpsichordist. |
 | | At first the orchestra was an aristocratic luxury, performing privately at the courts of the princes and nobles of Italy; but in the 17th century performances were given in theatres, and Germany eagerly followed. |
| music.searchbeat.com /symphony.htm (1056 words) |