Musical Ensembles

Chapter 11

Chorus

Fairly large group of singers who perform together, usually with several on each part. Also a choral movement of a large-scale work. In jazz, a single statement of the melodic-harmonic pattern.

Choir

A group of singers who perform together, usually in parts, with several on each part; often associated with a church

SATB

Abbreviation for the standard voices in a chorus or choir: soprano, alto, tenor, bass; may also refer to instrumental ranges

a cappella

Choral music performed without instrumental accompaniment

Chamber music

Ensemble music for up to about ten players, with one player to a part

String quartet

Chamber music ensemble consisting of two violins, viola, and cello. Also, a multimovement composition for this ensemble

Duo sonata

A chamber group comprised of a string, wind, or percussion soloist with piano. Also, in the Baroque period, a sonata for a melody instrument and basso continuo

Piano trio

Standard chamber ensemble of piano with violin and cello

Piano quartet

Standard chamber ensemble of piano with violin, viola, and cello

Piano quintet

Standard chamber ensemble of piano with string quartet

String quintet

Standard chamber ensemble made up of either two violins, two violas, and cello or two violins, viola, and two cellos

Sextet

Chamber music for six instruments or voices

Septet

Chamber music for seven instruments or voices

Octet

Chamber music for eight instruments or voices

Woodwind quintet

Standard chamber ensemble consisting of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn

Brass quintet

Standard chamber ensemble made up of two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba

Wind/concert band

Instrumental ensemble ranging from forty to eighty members or more, consisting of wind and percussion instruments

Marching band

Instrumental ensemble for entertainment at sports events and parades, consisting of wind and percussion instruments, drum majors/majorettes, flag bearers, and baton twirlers

Jazz band

Instrumental ensemble made up of reed (saxophones and clarinets), brass (trumpets and trombones), and rhythm sections (percussion, piano, double bass, and sometimes guitar)

Rock

A style of popular music with roots in rock and roll but differing in lyric content, recording technique, song length and form, and range of sources

Baton

A thin stick, usually painted white, used by a conductor

Concertmaster

The first-chair violinist of a symphony orchestra

Fugue

Polyphonic form popular in the Baroque era, in which one or more themes are developed by imitative counterpoint