Essentially, a philharmonic and a symphony are the same, the only true difference is the origin of the name. The words originate from the Greek words. Philharmonic means “love of harmony,” while the word symphony means “an agreement of sound.” A philharmonic led by a conductor consists of anywhere from 80 to 100 musicians and is comprised of four sections; brass, woodwinds, percussion and strings. The history of the philharmonic orchestra dates back to the 18th century, when the first such orchestra was founded in London. Since then, philharmonic orchestras have been established in many other cities worldwide. These orchestras typically have a “core” of professional musicians, who are supplemented by “freelance” or “casual” players as needed.
