Taught by Laura Gray. This course traces the history of the symphony from its 18th-century origins through the modern era. Topics include the galant style and early Italian overture-symphonies, the Mannheim School’s innovations, the Classical symphonies of Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven’s revolutionary expansion of the form, Romantic-era responses from Brahms, Dvořák, and Tchaikovsky, and 20th-century reinterpretations by Elgar, Prokofiev, and others. The course emphasizes how the symphony reflected changing audiences, cultural ideals, and the ongoing tension between tradition and innovation.