What defines a Symphony Orchestra?
The term ‘symphony orchestra’ is traditionally applied to a full orchestra containing a large body of strings, at least two of each woodwind, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba and timpani, with percussion and harp as necessary. This would total about eighty to a hundred musicians. This contrasts with a chamber orchestra which, with fewer strings and woodwind and no heavy brass, would total between eleven and forty players. The (chamber) orchestra of Mozart’s era gradually expanded to the symphony orchestra through the times of Beethoven and Brahms, swelling to often massive proportions to cope with the music of composers such as Strauss and Wagner.
