chamber orchestra

Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments - traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room.

Chamber group combinations String - violin, viola, cello, double bass, classical guitar. Woodwind - flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, recorder. Brass - trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, euphonium.

Chamber music typically refers to music written for smaller ensembles, like string quartets or brass quintets. Depending on the era, chamber music can refer to slightly different things, but it all means essentially the same thing: music for small groups in an intimate setting.

Chamber Orchestra is a highly select all-audition string group. It is not a club, but actually a "class" which earns 1 credit toward graduation. Students are expected to take private lessons, know their music with regular home practice, and be at all rehearsals and performances.

The primary difference between orchestra and chamber music is the number of players. In chamber music, there is generally one player per part while a full orchestra doubles up sections to add volume (especially in the string sections).

A piece of chamber music generally employs a small and variable body of performers, ranging from two up to ten or twelve, while an orchestral composition usually exceeds this number and can involve even more than one hundred instrumentalists.

cham·​ber ˈchām-bər. 1. : a room in a house and especially a bedroom. 2. : an enclosed space or compartment.

: music and especially instrumental ensemble music intended for performance in a private room or small auditorium and usually having one performer for each part.

forty to fifty musicians A smaller-sized orchestra (forty to fifty musicians or fewer) is called a chamber orchestra. A full-size orchestra (eighty to one hundred musicians or more) may be called a symphony orchestra.

“In chamber music rehearsals, they learn to critique others, while still being respectful of each other and other's ideas. This provides a strong basis for being able to teach others and also teach themselves.” “Chamber music is an essential part of a music student's education because it creates such strong musicians.”

In its original sense, chamber music referred to music composed for the home, as opposed to that written for the theatre or church. Since the “home” - whether it be drawing room, reception hall, or palace chamber - may be assumed to be of limited size, chamber music most often permits no more than one player to a part.

Chamber Orchestra is an auditioned string orchestra. These students are generally at the upper-intermediate level of music-making.