The summit of western music and the end of the common practice era

ROMANTIC INSTRUMENTAL

Chamber Music (existed previously)

Tone Poems/Program Music (greatly expanded)

Ballet/Opera (reached new heights)

Symphonies/Overtures/Vorspiels (much longer)

INSTRUMENTAL GENRES

• String Quartets• (2 violins, viola, cello) note the

traditional seating arrangement (left)

• Piano Trios, Quartets, Quintets

• Instrumental Sonatas/Pieces (with piano accompaniment)

• Other combinations (as composer desires)

CHAMBER MUSIC

• No conductor (1st violin leads, sniffs, and other visual cues)

• Often performed in smaller concert halls (palace chamber)

• If piano is used, instrumentalists are always placed in front

• Music is used (no memorization)

• Very expressive (each part is a solo)

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT CHAMBER MUSIC?

CHAMBER MUSIC LINGO

What does the title tell you?

The first word tells you what family of instruments are used, the second tells you how many. Then, the composer names the tonality (exp. C Major)

1. String Trio (early versions are 2 violins/cello, later are violin, viola, cello)

2. String Quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)

3. String Quintet (varies, can be added viola, cello, or bass)

HOWEVER, when a piano is added, the title “String” is dropped and replaced with piano. It is implied that the piano will be paired with strings.

4. Piano Trio (piano, violin, cello)

5. Piano Quartet (piano, violin, viola, cello)

6. Piano Quintet (piano, 2 violins, viola, cello)

FAMILY, NUMBER, TONALITY

• Because most instruments cannot manage chords/harmony, the piano is used to accompany instrumental sonatas

• Solo pieces/sonatas exist for almost every instrument

• Lingo – An instrumental sonata implies (instrument + piano)

INSTRUMENTAL SONATAS/PIECES