The Birth of the Symphony

The symphony is part of the staple diet of classical music lovers - it's the main meal of a concert, if you like. But this wasn't always the case. Dr Robert Samuels, Senior Lecturer in Music at the Open University, explains how this comprehensive form of music came to be.
"Today, the symphony is at the centre of our concert life. But, it only got there gradually."
Dr Robert Samuels