Download Higher Homework Chamber Music

Higher Listening Homework
Chamber Music
Name: …………………………………….. Class: ……… Completion date: ……………….
Instructions
After Reading this information sheet go to bbcbitesize Chamber Music and read through
all 4 pages, listening to the audio clips as you go along. You will be assessed on this topic
on your next Music Period.
Originally, chamber music referred to a type of classical music that was performed in a
small space such as a house or a palace room. The number of instruments used were also
few without a conductor to guide the musicians. Today, chamber music is performed very
similarly in terms of the size of the venue and the number of instruments - one player per
part (in orchestral music there are sometimes several players to a part.
In 1770, the harpsichord was replaced by the piano and the later became a chamber music
instrument. The piano trio (piano, cello and violin) then emerged evident in the works of
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert.
In the late 19th century, the piano quartet (piano, cello, violin and viola) emerged with the
works of such composers as Antonín Dvorák and Johannes Brahms. In 1842, Robert
Schumann wrote a piano quintet (piano plus string quartet).
Chamber Orchestra
Typically, a chamber orchestra is composed of 40 or fewer musicians. Because of the
limited number of instruments, each instrument plays an equally important role. In
Orchestral music there are sometimes several players to a part.
Some of the more common chamber music combinations are duets (two players), trios
(three), quartets (four) and quintets (five).
Baroque chamber music
The trio sonata was very popular during the Baroque period (roughly 1600–1750). Many
Baroque trio sonatas were written for two violins (or recorders, flute or oboe) plus continuo.
The continuo part was played by harpsichord (filling in the harmonies) sometimes with the
cello playing the bassline - so there were often four players, not three. The harpsichord is a
keyboard instrument where the strings are plucked rather than hammered.
Classical chamber music
During the Classical period (roughly 1750-1810) the harpsichord largely gave way to the
piano. Many composers wrote sonatas for a solo instrument plus piano. Violin, cello, and
flute sonatas were all popular. Mozart and Haydn both wrote violin sonatas and cello
sonatas
The string quartet is the most familiar type of composition for a chamber group. It has two
violins, a viola and a cello – all the parts are equally important. The two violins have the
highest parts, the viola plays in the middle and the cello has the lowest part.