Dictionary
serious music performed by a small group of musicians
|
Wikipedia
Chamber music is a form of European classical music classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any "art music" that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part. The word "chamber" signifies that the music can be performed in a small room, often with an intimate atmosphere. However, it usually does not include, by definition, solo instrument performances.
Definition - The phrase ''chamber music'' suggests a piece for at least two instruments, but there is no theoretical upper limit to the number of instruments. In practice, chamber works for more than five instruments are unusual, and works scored for more than eight are rare. When dealing with a piece for ten or more players, it is generally considered a small chamber orchestra.Chamber works exist for many different combinations of instruments, with the string quartet often seen as the most important. Popular chamber groups other than the string quartet include the string trio, the piano trio, the piano quintet and the string quintet. Woodwind instruments and brass instruments are used less often. Several composers have written works for mixed groups of wind and strings, and some have written for wind instruments alone, but with the exception of the French horn, brass instruments are very rarely used. This is probably in part due to the fact that at the time chamber music was first being written, brass instruments did not have valves, and so could only produce a limited number of notes.While chamber music is frequently played in public concerts, it is usually heard in halls much smaller than those used for orchestral concerts. The more intimate acoustics of a smaller space, imitating the drawing rooms in which such music was originally played, are more suitable for a small group of instruments.
History - While the term is most often applied to instrumental performances, the Madrigal (music)madrigals of the renaissance musicRenaissance period in the 16th century may be considered chamber music.The most prominent Baroque musicBaroque form of this type is the trio sonata. In the classical music eraClassical period, new forms were developed, most importantly the string quartet. These pieces were often written for amateurs, and not intended to be played in public. Many of the string quartets of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for example, were written to be played for fun and in private, by a string quartet of which they were both members.One of the composers responsible for bringing chamber music to the concert hall is Ludwig van Beethoven. He wrote chamber music for amateurs, such as the Septet of 1800, but his last string quartets are very complex works which amateurs would have struggled to play. They are also seen as pushing the boundaries of acceptable harmony of that time, and are regarded as some of his most profound works. Following Beethoven in the romantic musicromantic period, many other composers wrote pieces for professional chamber groups.
Resources - ''Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music'', edited by Walter Willson Cobbett in 1923, and updated and reprinted in 1963, is a comprehensive guide to chamber music compositions and composers up to that time.Sir Donald Francis Tovey, British pianist and musicologist, wrote many insightful essays on the subject of chamber music, some of them available in the volume of his ''Essays in Musical Analysis'' that he devotes to it.
Performance - Many classical musicians enjoy playing chamber music. In most cases, chamber music is performed without a conductor, so each performer has greater artistic freedom. For organizing a performance, the expense is lower and the logistics simpler than that for even a modest orchestra. While the repertoire is not suitable for beginners, there are pieces within the technical and artistic capabilities of most serious amateurs.
Ensembles - This is a partial list of the types of Musical ensembleensembles found in chamber music. The standard repertoire for chamber ensembles is rich, and the totality of chamber music in print in sheet music form is nearly boundless. See the articles on each instrument combination for examples of repertoire.
External links - The acmp.net - Amateur Chamber Music Players publishes a contact list of musicians worldwide who play chamber music for their own enjoyment. They also publish lists of repertoire.!http://www.composerplanet.com/ cgi-bin/wiki.cgi?ChamberMusic< li>artofthestates.org - Art of the States: Chamber/small chamber music (3-8 instruments) by American composersartofthestates.org - Art of the States: Chamber/large chamber music (9+ instruments) by American composersCategory:Chamber musicCategory:Musical !groupsda:Kammermusikde:Kammerm usiket:Kammermuusikafr:Musique ? de !chambrenl:Kamermuziekja:重奏 sv:Kammarmusik
|
|
Websites
Ensemble Punto It
Chamber music group and musical events
http://www.ensemblepuntoi.it
Melrose Music MM
MelroseMusic MM (run by Douglas Gunn) publishes music and recordings, early and modern music - instrumental vocal and choral - including music by Irish composers. New titles added frequently.
http://www.melrosemusic.ie/
RIchard Paul Concert Artists
We pride ourselves in representing some of the best performers on the Classical Music scene currently touring the continent. We specialize in working with chamber music presenters, festival and Orchestras in helping them to put together a spectacular season. This year we welcome two new artists to our roster, the phenomenal virtuoso marimbist, Anne-Julie Caron and the well-established Adaskin String Trio. I am including a business reply form on the inside back cover on this year's brochure for your convenience. If you are interested in receiving support material on any of the artists on our roster in any format, please return this page to us and we will be happy to send you audio, video or print materials for your consideration. We look forward to serving you and helping to make your upcoming season the very best.Sincerely, Richard Paul
http://www.greatconcerts.com/
JWR (James Wegg review)
your independent global view of performing arts and film
http://www.jamesweggreview.org/
Reuben Hoch/ The Chassidic Jazz project
ancestry and artistry unite. This world class chamber group performs liturgical jewish melodies set to jazz and neo contemporary music.
http://www.chassidicjazz.com/
Edizioni Armelin Musica Padova
Italian publisher specialist in organ, harpsichor music. Also in catalog music for piano, strings, wind, vocal, music.
http://www.armelin.it/
Moritzburg Festival
Founded in 1993, the Moritzburg Festival, artistic director cellist Jan Vogler, belongs internationally to the most significant chamber music festivals. Each year in August, renowned soloists and promising young musicians from all over the world create a music spotlight on Moritzburg. The unique concept of the festival combines concerts at the baroque Moritzburg Castle, the local church of Moritzburg, the Proschwitz Wine Estate, the Dresden Frauenkirche and the Transparent Manufactory of Volkswagen in Dresden as well as Gala-Evenings, solo recitals, composer's lectures, and the Moritzburg Festival Academy. The dynamic and vital character of the Moritzburg Festival attracts numerous visitors from Germany and abroad. Artists of the festival appear throughout the year as “Moritzburg Festival on Tour” in the major music centres of Europe and the United States. The next year’s Moritzburg Festival will take place from August 3 to 19, 2007. For further information please visit www.moritzburgfestival.de
http://www.moritzburgfestival.de/
Chamber Music PLUS
A presenting and performing arts organization of unique programs that often fuse multiple disciplines (THEATER , CLASSICAL MUSIC AND VISUALS). Chamber Music PLUS also presnets qually innovative programs for children in the elementary school grades.
http://www.chambermusicplus.org/
Giampaolo Di Rosa
Site of Giampaolo Di Rosa, organ, piano and harpsichord performer, composer, improvisor
http://www.giampaolodirosa.com/
Chamber Music America
National association of professional chamber music provides links, calendars, email lists, publications, and grants.
http://www.chamber-music.org/
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Founded in 1972, celebrates the art of chamber music through a summer season of over 80 events, new commissioned works, education and outreach programs and a winter/spring trio of concerts by leading musicians and composers.
http://www.santafechambermusic.org/
Yale University
A leading private, independent research institution. Founded in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut.
http://www.yale.edu/
Seattle Chamber Music Society
They present a four week chamber music festival each July at Lakeside School and a three day Winter Interlude each January at Benaroya Hall.
http://www.scmf.org
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Features concert and touring calendar; discography with RealAudio samples.
http://www.chambermusicsociety.org/
|
|