In order to understand what symphonic orchestra means, it is reasonable to come back to Ancient Egypt. That time groups of musicians had performed the music both at the holidays and funerals simultaneously. The look of modern orchestra, which we get used to listening to and seeing, goes back to sixteenth century. L. Beethoven was the one who provided a great contribution into symphonic orchestra. It was he who made up special music for such a number of instruments. Therefore the classic orchestra stuff had been formed, that is, ten fiddles, two flutes, two horns and two tympani. The second group was represented with eight second fiddles, two oboes and two horns. Finally, the third group included six altos, two clarinets, five or six violoncellos, two fagots and three or four contrabasses. In our days this orchestra would be called the chamber one. There are four different types of instruments: string (fiddle, alto, violoncello, and contrabass); wind-band (tubes, horns, trombones) and percussion (drams, tympani, bells, triangles, xylophones, metal phones and many more. It is not a chamber one.
    The sphere of symphonic music includes diverse works: symphonies, overtures, fantasies, poems, symphonic suits. It is well known that the symphonic orchestra is compulsory during the ballet and opera performances. This time it consists of three groups of instruments: stringed and percussion. Sometimes there are plucked (harp) and keyed (fortepiano and celesta) instruments. In comparison with other types of orchestra the symphonic one has gotten very distinctive characteristics, for instance, it is full of beautiful tone quality, that is to say, lyric sound can be changed into low dark contrabass sound. The tender flute roulades and clarinet are echoing with distinctive intonations of oboe and fagot, energetic tube calls with tympani roars, dinging plates drum beats. The most wonderful and emotive sounds can be heard from violins (fiddles). They look like a human voice. Alto has a low tone; violoncello differs with nice thick and rich sounds; contrabass is the lowest instrument due to its sound and the biggest one. Shortly saying, each instrument plays its own role in the orchestra. Sometimes a harp sound is used in the symphonic orchestra - it gives a very unique pleasant sound.