Music for small ensembles
I can identify key small ensembles and describe key features of chamber and solo music from across the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.
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- Year 10
- AQA
Music for small ensembles
I can identify key small ensembles and describe key features of chamber and solo music from across the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Chamber music is music in the Western Classical Tradition written for a small ensemble.
- In the Baroque period the trio sonata was the most common form, featuring two melodic instruments with basso continuo.
- In the Classical period the string quartet was very popular, but many other combinations of instruments were also used.
- These included trios, duets, quintets and others.
- Compositions for solo instrument (with or without accompaniment) have also been popular throughout the periods.
Keywords
Chamber music - music composed for a small ensemble, such as a string quartet
String quartet - a key ensemble in the Western Classical Tradition, consisting of two violins, a viola and a cello
Piano trio - another common small ensemble, typically consisting of a piano, violin and cello
Trio sonata - a common Baroque style of chamber music, with two melodic instruments and continuo
Solo - a performance by one instrument; sometimes compositions for an instrument with a piano accompaniment are also called a solo
Common misconception
Most music in the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods was written for an orchestra.
Although a lot of the most famous music now is orchestral, it was much more diverse than this - composers wrote for many different ensembles, large and small. These included solo compositions, duets, trios, quartets, quintets and many others.
Equipment
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