Here's why:
* Instrumental Composition: It's a piece written for instruments, not voices.
* Several Movements: It's divided into sections (movements) with contrasting tempos and moods.
* Based on a Literary or Pictorial Idea: It's inspired by a story, poem, painting, or other artwork, which gives it a "program" or narrative thread.
Famous examples of programmatic symphonies include:
* Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique: Based on a literary program about a man in love and his despair over her rejection.
* Liszt's Symphonie fantastique: Inspired by the life and death of Franz Schubert.
* Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World": Inspired by the composer's experiences in America.
Programmatic symphonies are distinguished by their attempt to evoke images, emotions, and stories through music, rather than simply being abstract musical structures.