With the Richmond Symphony Orchestra’s chamber concert coming up on Saturday, you may be asking yourself: What is Chamber Music and how is it different from other orchestral music?
Here are the key characteristics of chamber music to help you understand what’s happening on stage.
- Chamber music is a type of musical performance which peaked in popularity during the high classical period (1730-1820)
- It utilizes a limited number of instruments and performers such that the ensemble can perform within a “chamber” of a palace, or a large room
- There is usually only one performer for each instrument part (as opposed to a full orchestra where and entire section of a particular instrument will share a part
- There are usually no featured soloists; performers are equal parts to the musical “conversation” passing the motif to one another
- One of the most popular forms is the string quartet utilizing two violin parts, a viola, and cello
- Some notable chamber music composers include Hayden, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert
Learn more about the chamber concert “Early Classical Gems” on Saturday, February 4, 2017.