Small Ensembles
Duet - Composed of two musicians performing together. May also be defined as a composition meant to be played by two musicians either on different or similar instruments, for example piano duet or piano four hands.
Trio - Composed of three musicians performing together. May also be defined as a piece of music meant to be played by three musicians or a piece of music for three instruments. For example, a string trio is composed of a cello, violin and viola.
Quartet - Composed of four musicians performing together. May also be defined as a composition meant to be played by four musicians or a composition for four instruments. For example, a string quartet is composed of one cello, one viola and two violins.
Quintet - Composed of five musicians performing together. May also be defined as a piece of music meant to be played by five musicians or a piece of music for five instruments. For example, Schubert's Piano Quintet in A major is composed of a piano, bass, cello, violin and viola.
Sextet - Composed of six musicians performing together. May also be defined as a composition meant to be played by six musicians or a composition for six instruments. For example, a string sextet is composed of two cellos, two violins and two violas.
Septet - Composed of seven musicians. May also be defined as a piece of music meant to be played by seven musicians or a piece of music for seven instruments. For example, Beethoven's Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 is composed of a bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, horn, violin and viola.
Octet - Composed of eight musicians. May also be defined as a composition meant to be played by eight musicians or a composition for eight instruments. Mendelssohn's Octet for Strings in E flat major, Op. 20 originally scored for two cellos, four violins and two violas is an example.
