A choir is a group of singers who perform together. It is also called a chorale or chorus, which comes from the Latin word “chorus,” meaning a dance in a circle. Choral music is the music written for choirs to perform or the music that choirs play.
A reed trio, also called a trio d’anches, is a group of three reed instruments: oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. Both terms can also describe a musical piece written for this group.
A wind quintet, also called a woodwind quintet, is a group of five musicians who play wind instruments. The most common instruments are flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon. Unlike a string quartet, which has four string instruments that create similar sounds, the instruments in a wind quintet are very different from each other in how they are played, the types of music they perform, and the sounds they make.
A brass quintet is a group of five musicians who play brass instruments. The usual setup includes two trumpets or cornets, one French horn, one trombone or euphonium/baritone horn, and one tuba or bass trombone. There are two main setups for a brass quintet: one with two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a tuba; and another with two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a bass trombone.
A wind quintet, also called a woodwind quintet, is a group of five musicians who play wind instruments. These instruments are most often the flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon. Unlike a string quartet, which has four string instruments that create a similar sound, the instruments in a wind quintet are very different from each other in how they are played, the types of music they perform, and the quality of their sound.
In classical music, a piano quintet is a type of chamber music written for a piano and four other instruments. Most piano quintets, since 1842, use a string quartet, which includes two violins, a viola, and a cello. The term “piano quintet” also describes the group of musicians who perform this type of music.
A piano quartet is a type of musical piece meant for small groups, played by a piano and three other instruments. The other instruments are often a string trio, which includes a violin, viola, and cello. Many composers wrote piano quartets for this standard group, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Robert Schumann, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Antonín Dvořák, and Gabriel Fauré.
A piano trio is a group that includes a piano and two other instruments, such as a violin and a cello, or a musical piece written for such a group. It is one of the most common types of classical chamber music. The term can also describe a group of musicians who often perform this type of music together; examples of well-known piano trios are listed below.
A string quintet is a musical piece written for five string musicians. It is based on a string quartet, which includes two violins, one viola, and one cello. A string quintet adds a fifth instrument, often a second viola (called a “viola quintet”) or a second cello (called a “cello quintet”).
A string quartet is a type of musical piece or a group of four musicians who play it. Many composers from the mid-1700s onward wrote string quartets. The group includes two violinists, one violist, and one cellist.