The symphony, devised in the eighteenth century, was a foundational development in musical composition, and is one of the most widely known forms in music, across the lines of time and distance. Traditionally, the form is in four movements, the first being an allegro, followed by a slower movement, such as an adagio, leading into a minuet or scherzo, and concluding with an allegro or rondo. Although this form was considered to be the classical rendition of a symphony, many of the popular composers of the time, did not conform to the traditionally accepted structure, in the deeper tradition of non-conformism in art.

In the early days, the symphony was not the focal point of the musical act, but audiences were primarily interested in vocal talent. The early symphonies were shortened versions of the later works, and were used primarily as interludes. In the 19th century, Beethoven developed and perfected the musical structure, and added vocal and choral parts to his compositions.

The symphony orchestra is a widespread element of culture to this day. There is an orchestra in nearly every American city, and these performances are far more accessible to the public than they were in the early days of symphony. The orchestra consists of four sections: strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion. The average size is approximately 100 musicians, with chamber orchestras numbering around 40. Wagner made history with vast orchestras, consisting of over 200 individuals.

Modern orchestral music made its way into modern rock with rock orchestras and symphonic rock. The Beatles conceptualized the integration of symphony and rock, and were later followed by The Who, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The symphonic movement which began centuries ago is continually growing and developing, and will likely be the undercurrent of music for centuries to come.