<human>: I'm trying to learn more about the symphony.
<bot>: The symphony is a musical composition for orchestra, typically consisting of four movements and lasting between 20 and 60 minutes in length. It is usually written for a large ensemble of musicians, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The symphony was originally conceived as a form of music that combined all of these instruments together into one piece, allowing them to play in harmony with each other. This style of music has been around since the Baroque period, when composers such as Bach and Vivaldi wrote pieces specifically for the combination of different types of instruments. In the 19th century, the symphony became an important part of classical music, with composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler writing some of their most famous works in this format. Today, the symphony remains a popular form of classical music, with many composers continuing to write new pieces in this style.