Test Drive Guide to Chamber Music
Hundreds of years before recorded music, families played music at home. They made their own entertainment by gathering around a piano or other instruments played by family members. Chamber music evolved from these intimate recitals in domestic settings.
Chamber Music - Up Close and Personal
Today, chamber music is technically any music where each instrument has its own part. (This contrasts with an orchestra, where, for instance, a number of violins will play the same piece of music.)
What has remained constant is the intimacy of a chamber music concert. As an audience member you experience the rare privilege of not only listening, but seeing the artistry of the musicians up close and personal.
Chamber Music Groups
Chamber music groups generally comprise two or more instruments, although solo piano can be included.
Chamber music groups take a number of forms - string quartets, piano trios (piano, violin and cello), string trios (violin, viola and cello), through to groups with fifteen or more players.
The only hard and fast rule is that only one instrument plays each part of the music.
Chamber Music Composers
Just about every major composer wrote chamber music scores - Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn and Brahms. There are also contemporary composers who are writing some magnificent modern chamber music, like Australia's internationally renowned Peter Sculthorpe.
Where's the conductor?
Chamber music groups generally do not have a conductor. The role of conductor is assigned to the musician whose instrument starts a particular piece. This means the role changes from instrument to instrument during the course of any one performance. It is fascinating to watch the musicians silently communicating with each other at the commencement of each piece of music.
When to applaud at a chamber music recital
The audience applauds as the musicians take their place on the stage at the beginning of the performance and after each interval.
You can also applaud at the end of each piece of music and, of course, at the end of the concert.