The symphony orchestra takes its name from the Greek symphonía, meaning sounding in agreement, and orkh?stra which implies a public stage for dance or, in ancient Rome, where senators and other big shots sat. Democracy comes from d?mokratia, rule by the people. Even though the modern orchestra originated three centuries ago as a plaything of princes, there has always been an implicit connection — and tension — between orchestras and democracy.Despite the orchestra never having been a financially sustainable model, dependent on some form of patronage, the symphony orchestra was embroiled in political activism by the early 19th century. Beethoven…