Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC Simon Russell Beale, presenter of Symphony

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Got a passion for music? Find out about studying at The Open University.

Symphony on TV

Symphony is a four-part series which explores the most exalted and influential idea in Western Classical music and, for the first time, demonstrated the surprising way in which it has shaped us and our modern world. Presented by Simon Russell Beale, you can read more about the episodes on the BBC's Symphony pages.

Below, you can explore articles and videos about the symphony and notable figures in its history, and see how you can develop your interest in music with the Open University.

 

Go deeper into the music with OpenLearn

What is a symphony, anyway? Creative commons imageCredit: Madera de músico / Jorge Franganillo / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Robert Samuels wonders what it is that makes 200-year-old symphonies worth listening to today  Read more : What is a symphony, anyway?

When was the heyday of the symphony? Creative commons imageCredit: Work found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Wenzel_Zajicek_025.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0

Robert Samuels looks back to when symphonies were the way to get noticed in the world of music  Read more : When was the heyday of the symphony?

Musical landscapes: the symphony after 1900 Creative commons imageCredit: an unsung Symphony / Jithin Radhakrishnan / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Fiona Richards looks at the symphony around the world during the first half of the 20th Century  Read more : Musical landscapes: the symphony after 1900

Yesterday’s genre, or the music of the future? Creative commons imageCredit: Work found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philip_Glass_018.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0

Ben Winters ponders the state of the Symphony since the Second World War.  Read more : Yesterday’s genre, or the music of the future?

Take it further with The Open University

Study at the OU: Start listening to music Copyrighted imageCredit: sea turtle under CC-BY-NC-ND licence

Ever heard a piece of music and wanted to know more? This 12-week online course explores form, instrumentation and context through a range of music  Read more : Study at the OU: Start listening to music

Study at the OU: The arts past and present Creative commons imageCredit: By spo0nman via Flickr under Creative Commons license

A broad course that introduces the arts across a range of subject areas, including music, art, English, classics and history  Read more : Study at the OU: The arts past and present

Study at the OU: Inside music Creative commons imageCredit: Oxford Comma / Ben Barnes / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

An introduction to the principles of music, from the fundamental elements like rhythm and melody through to writing your own song  Read more : Study at the OU: Inside music