This document discusses different types of musical ensembles including chamber music groups, orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands, and rock bands. It provides examples of instrumentation and compositions for different sized chamber groups from duos to octets. It also describes the sections and roles of instruments in a symphony orchestra. Basic concert etiquette for both audiences and performers is outlined. Readings and video assignments are listed to supplement the information provided.

1. Musical Ensembles
Attending Concerts

2. Chamber Music
• A form of classical music that is composed for a small group of
instruments, one performer to a part.
• Duet
• Trio
• Quartet
• Various ensembles up to ten performers
The following are only a few examples of chamber music
ensembles. Instrumentation varies as there is no set
instrumentation for these genres. The instrumentation is
determined by a composer.

3. Two Instruments
• Two instruments
• Sonata
Beethoven, “Kreutzer” Sonata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COGcCBJAC6I
• Duet
Copland, Duet for Flute and Piano
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/duo-for-flute-and-piano-
aaron-copland/
Rossini, Duet for Cello and
Basshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8SCz1bEXs

4. Three Instruments
• String Trio
• Violin, Viola, Cello
Beethoven, String Trio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VVXP1Y-
ckw
• Piano trio
• Piano, clarinet, cello
Brahms, Trio in A Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOayoH9YRWk
• Piano, violin, cello
Mozart, Piano Trio in B Flat
Majorhttp://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/piano-trio-in-b-
flat-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/

5. Four Instruments
• Quartet
• Brass quartet: trumpet 1, trumpet 2, euphonium, tuba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DO_XtUNQRI
• String quartet: violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello
Beethoven, String Quartet in F Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaSAdCvzPgU
• Piano quartet: violin, viola, cello, piano
Mendelssohn, Piano Quartet in D Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6QJu23I7YQ

6. Five Instruments
• Quintet
• String quintet: violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello 1, cello 2
Schubert, String Quintet in C Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jgqFnh3q0
• Brass quintet: trumpet, cornet, horn, trombone, tuba
Bach, Little Fugue in G Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvc4955x_W8
• Wind quintet: flute, oboe, horn, bassoon, clarinet
Nielsen, Wind Quintet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQDdD66tv1w

7. Six Instruments
• Sextet
• String Sextet: violin 1, violin 2, viola 1, viola 2, cello 1, cello 2
Tchaikovsky, Souvenir de Florence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD2o1VdnmN4
Brahms, String Sextet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ZboerS4zc
• Wind Sextet: clarinet 1, clarinet 2, horn 1, horn 2, bassoon 1, bassoon 2
Beethoven, Wind Sextet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-qmzhpAfgw
• Mixed ensemble: woodwind quintet (bassoon, horn, flute, oboe,
clarinet) and piano
Poulenc, Sextet for Piano and Woodwind Quintet
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/sextet-for-piano-and-
wind-quintet-francis-poulenc/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1mQJkbv_f8

8. Seven performers
• Septet
• Mixed ensemble: violin, viola, cello, bass, horn, bassoon, clarinet.
Beethoven, Septet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSOMNr-RzCY

9. Eight Performers
• Octet
• Eight musicians, various ensembles.
Mendelssohn, String Octet: violin 1, violin 2, violin 3, violin 4, viola
1, viola 2, cello 1, cello 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooZc8e4gUWQ
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/string-octet-in-e-
flat-felix-mendelssohn/

10. Choral Groups
• Chorus – an ensemble of singers.
• Mixed: soprano, alto, tenor, bass – SATB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=475pqwwbZ1w
• Male: tenors, baritones, basses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jRnL6fRdcc
• Female: sopranos and altos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkom5n3DY8U
• Children’s: sopranos and altos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOG99ASUU-o
• Choir - a smaller than a chorus singing ensemble. This term is
used in English language. Church choirs.
• Various singing ensembles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C3G1mMJQUY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpEqeTWI_EQ

11. The Symphony Orchestra

12. Strings
• First Violins
• Second Violins
• Violas
• Cellos
• Basses
• Harp

13. Woodwinds
• Flutes
• Piccolo
• Oboes
• Clarinets
• Bassoons
• Contrabassoon
• Saxophones
Various woodwind instruments discussed previously can be
added at composers’ discretions.

14. Brass
• French horns
• Trumpets
• Trombones
• Tubas

15. Percussion
• Timpani
• Snare drum
• Tenor drum
• Bass drum
• Cymbals
• Tam-tam
• Triangle
• Wood block
• Tambourine
• Glockenspiel
• Xylophone
• Vibraphone
• Tubular bells
• Marimba

16. Keyboards
• Piano
• Celesta

17. Conductors
• Are in charge of planning and preparation to the concerts.
• Show not only conducting patterns, but also articulate
expressive qualities of music.
Mozart, “Dies Irae” from “Requiem” conducted by H. Karajan,
start at 10:16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia8ceqIDSJw
• Conductorless orchestras
• Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Jd8l62r5E
• Australian Chamber Orchestra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kFYlUXO_G4

18. Listening
As you watch the following videos, please note the sections and
instruments listed above.
Verdi, Overture to La Forza del Destino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thxOV5_YCh4
Britten, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vbvhU22uAM

19. Concert Bands
• Professional, collegiate, and school concert and marching
bands and wind ensembles.
• University of Michigan Concert Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWejXR78FN8

20. Jazz Bands
• Duke Ellington Big Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY
• Dave Brubeck Quartet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHdU5sHigYQ
• Dizzy Gillespie Quintet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjZa7lyyGlw

21. Rock Bands
• The Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4zaofnVhps
• Any suggestions? 

22. Concert Etiquette
Basic rules of the concert etiquette at a classical music concert:
• Audience
• Applaud at appropriate times, not between the sections of a multi-
movement composition.
• Do not be disruptive.
• Do not leave the auditorium while the music is playing.
• Only applauding is an appropriate sign of public appreciation.
• Performers
• Solo performers and conductors bow right after they enter the stage
and after the completion of a one-movement piece or a multi-
movement cycle.
• Orchestra members will stand up when a conductor appears on the
stage.
• A concertmaster (a first violinist) tunes the orchestra before a
conductor comes on the stage.

23. Required Readings
• http://openhighschoolcourses.org/mod/page/view.php?id=11
823
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_ensemble
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_etiquette
• http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/
Video assignment:
http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.
aspx?xtid=40223&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Genres%20in%20
Music:%20From%20Handel%20to%20Hip-
Hop&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=