Where is chamber music supposed to be performed

Of the various configurations that evolved for chamber groups, the string quartet became the most popular for several reasons. It proved the ideal exponent of the four-part harmonic language that had developed by this time, while maintaining intimacy and cohesion in texture.

And since stringed instruments were considered the closest in quality to the human voice, they became a favorite choice for composers wishing to express their deepest emotion without using words. Josef Haydn is generally acknowledged to be the father of the modern string quartet. The patronage of the Esterhazy family, for whom he served as composer-in-residence, allowed Haydn to indulge his playful nature and gave him freedoms he would not have enjoyed had he had to compose for his supper.

Arguably, universities have replaced regal houses in freeing artists-in-residence from the tyranny of the concert tour. The two enjoyed playing string quartets together, Haydn on first violin and Mozart on viola. After this crucial time period in the development of true chamber music, the genre blossomed.

Mozart and Beethoven further popularized the string quartet, making it one of, if not the , most universally recognized chamber music forms in Western classical music. Romantic period composers like Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann greatly developed the chamber music genre even further, composing masterpieces for various combinations of winds, strings, and piano, including trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, and octets.

In the nineteenth century, composers Anton Reicha and Franz Danzi helped to popularize the woodwind quintet flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn as a standard chamber music ensemble. And by the twentieth century, chamber music had materialized into full-fledged adulthood, in college for the first time, exploring all of the exciting possibilities life has to offer.

The concept of chamber music had become what we understand it to be today: music for a small ensemble, with one player per part, often performed without a conductor.

Think of the possibilities! In addition to ensembles like the string quartet and wind quintet, chamber music now includes instrumentations like a brass quintet:. In chamber music, the possibilities really are endless. It can tell stories, accompany a celebration, express an idea, or simply just be a wonderful work of art. This is why it is such an exciting genre and one that we love sharing with you!

So, is a hot dog a sandwich? Ysabel Sarte is currently working on completing her dissertation for a Ph. She is also a clarinetist, having studied, performed, and taught in California, Tennessee, Washington state, Kentucky, Texas, and Japan.

Her research focus is on the aural universe of the female mystics of early modern Spain, but her broader range of interests includes medieval memes, cooking, terrible reality television, armchair politicking, writing, pedagogy, and her animals. Apr 25, A Brief History of Chamber Music. Recent Posts See All. Twelve Musician Puzzles. Post not marked as liked. What is Music Theory, and why does it matter? A musical ensemble, also known as a music group, is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music, typically known by a distinct name.

In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families such as piano, strings, and wind instruments or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles. In jazz ensembles, the instruments typically include wind instruments one or more saxophones, trumpets, etc.

In rock ensembles, usually called rock bands, there are usually guitars and keyboards piano, electric piano, Hammond organ, synthesizer, etc.

In Western classical music, smaller ensembles are called chamber music ensembles. The terms duet, trio, quartet,quintet, sextet, septet, octet, nonet and dectet describe groups of two up to ten musicians, respectively. A group of eleven musicians, such as found in The Carnival of the Animals , is called either a hendectet or an undectet. A solo is not an ensemble because it only contains one musician. A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece.

It is often used to describe a composition involving two singers. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo section rather than performing simultaneously. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists. The term is also used to describe a composition for such a group. The violin departs first, elaborating on its own melody, followed by the piano.

The cello provides structure as a bass instrument, giving a few melodic ideas. A string quartet usually consists of two violins, a viola, and a cello.