sinfonietta

Meaning

Noun

• A small-scale symphony (either in length or size of orchestra needed).
• A small orchestra.

Origin

• Either:
• from the Italian sinfonietta;
• formed on the Italian roots sinfonia + -etta (feminine diminutive suffix), either in English or in German (as Sinfonietta) and adopted thence; or,
• an alteration of the French symphoniette to resemble an Italian construction of the form sinfonia + -etta.
• Compare the French–Italian hybrid symphonietta.