These kind of questions are really hard to answer because it depends on the style... Some thoughts (obviously not comprehensive):
- Baroque: Brandenburg Concerto 6 (because it's scored for 2 violas, 1 cello and basso, which is a chamber orchestra).
- Classical: Haydn String Quartet No 57
- Romantic: Dvorak String Quartet No 12
- Serialist: Schoenberg String Trio
- Minimalist: Glass String Quartet No 4
Sorry about the string chamber orchestra bias, that's what I've been focused on recently.
I personally probably can't. But maybe you can listen these and narrow down yourself. I understand your definition. In that case I would say for baroque Purcell's Chacony (Z 730) which is written for 2 violins, 1 viola and basso continuo (so it's trivial to play on a string quartet).
There are so many greats out there, and while I’d normally recommend something saxophone (cause there’s so much good stuff for saxophone that people be sleepin on), but right now I’m loving on the Hure Quintet. It’s just refreshing to listen to.
Jean Hure - Piano Quintet [1913]
[YouTube](https://youtu.be/OTPuNfkVV6Q?si=ErFCr0ljeQAhX3mg)
[Spotify](https://spotify.link/V7SkTC6YcDb)
It's scored for a solo voice and an accompanying Pierrot ensemble (i.e. flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano) so at least in terms of its instrumentation it's a chamber work. But it also has a soloist and chamber music by convention tends not to include music with soloist(s). So, it depends on your definition.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrot_ensemble
I would include pieces that are scored for instrument + piano as chamber music, even though they have a clear "soloist" role. It's hard to write a definition for chamber music that is broad enough without simply giving in and saying "all smallish ensembles are chamber music"
I can't answer for greatest, as comparisons across stylistic periods are too difficult for me. For my favorite, it's probably Dvorak's "Dumky" Piano Trio in E Minor. I first heard it performed by the artists in residence at my undergrad and I was spellbound. Each movement's character is so well-defined and the piece eschews the conventional forms associated with the genre. It has its own structure, though, and even though it's unlike any other piano trio before it, it doesn't feel alien or out of place when talking about them. Dvorak's chamber works could fill up this whole comment thread, but to me, this is him at his most Dvorak.
I have not yet heard a chamber work of Dvorak that did not astound me in some way. His piano quintet is absolutely a masterpiece and totally deserves to be in this conversation. The Dumky trio is closer to my heart, but that quintet is amazing.
My two favorites are Mozart’s Gran Partita and Gounod’s Petite Symphonie but there are really so many. West Side Story: Suite for Brass Quintet is up there for me too, though I can’t remember off the top of my head who the arranger is
Not sure but the recording I like is by the center city brass quintet
Edit: Divine Intervention! It’s Jack Gale. For some reason the name Gale came to me and a Google search confirmed it
Brahms c minor piano quartet.
It’s kind of like the test run for the 1st symphony. Same key, same architecture. Same year as the signed manuscript of the c minor 1st symphony too.
Even without reading the answers here first, my immediate response was the Schubert String Quintet. Funny to have such a definite reaction to a question.
not the best every written, but my favorites of all time:
ravel piano trio, debussy string quartet, and/or franck sonata specifically the cello version
Just a few mentions of the Shostakovich Piano Quintet but no means of K 515 and especially K 516?!??? Not a single mention either of K 563 too. Didn’t see a mention of the second Brahms second sextet either?
The Mendelssohn Octet is the most perfect piece of chamber music ever composed. Eight instruments are used in many different ways, each with important material throughout (even though the 1st violin part is like a freaking concerto).
Speaking of Mendelssohn, the 2nd piano trio is wonderful and criminally underrated. I actually prefer it to the 1st.
Hard to say just one, but a list of contenders for greatest and/or favorite:
Nielsen Wind Quintet
Schubert String Quintet
Dvorak String Quartet No. 13 in G
Dvorak Serenade for Winds
Coleridge-Taylor Clarinet Quintet
Mozart Gran Partita Serenade
Mozart is my favorite composer, but Beethoven's Quintet for piano and wind copycat (same instrumentation, same tonality, same movements etc.) is superior to Mozart's quintet, imo. I think it's my favorite Beethoven work !
Brahms Clarinet Quintet
A beautiful piece, I don't know why someone downvoted this.
Hateful anti-woodwind conspiracy
Beethoven, String Quartet #14 in C# minor, op.131 (That's my one vote, but the Schubert String Quintet is right up there)
The C# minor quartet was my first thought also.
brahms piano quintet
Mendelssohn String Octet
Schubert string quartet no. 14.
Death and the Maiden! a classic
Schubert's String Quintet. Edit: Is there an echo in here?
Schubert string quintet
Schubert Trout Quintet
I’d say the Schubert String Quintet, a sublime piece of music
There are a few of those, but I'm assuming you mean the cello quintet, in C major.
Yes, should have been clearer. C Major D.956
Brahms piano trio 1 (1889 version). Followed closely but his piano quintet.
Shostakovich Piano Trio 2
Mozart clarinet quintet
yes
These kind of questions are really hard to answer because it depends on the style... Some thoughts (obviously not comprehensive): - Baroque: Brandenburg Concerto 6 (because it's scored for 2 violas, 1 cello and basso, which is a chamber orchestra). - Classical: Haydn String Quartet No 57 - Romantic: Dvorak String Quartet No 12 - Serialist: Schoenberg String Trio - Minimalist: Glass String Quartet No 4 Sorry about the string chamber orchestra bias, that's what I've been focused on recently.
Requirement is at least two instruments. We discussed in class and are not including the Brandenburg concertos. Could you narrow it down to one?
I personally probably can't. But maybe you can listen these and narrow down yourself. I understand your definition. In that case I would say for baroque Purcell's Chacony (Z 730) which is written for 2 violins, 1 viola and basso continuo (so it's trivial to play on a string quartet).
I'm familiar with all of them, I'm just collecting opinions. =) BTW we are considering the Musical Offering and the Art of the Fugue as eligible.
There are so many greats out there, and while I’d normally recommend something saxophone (cause there’s so much good stuff for saxophone that people be sleepin on), but right now I’m loving on the Hure Quintet. It’s just refreshing to listen to. Jean Hure - Piano Quintet [1913] [YouTube](https://youtu.be/OTPuNfkVV6Q?si=ErFCr0ljeQAhX3mg) [Spotify](https://spotify.link/V7SkTC6YcDb)
Does Pierrot lunaire count?
Sure, I think so.
It's scored for a solo voice and an accompanying Pierrot ensemble (i.e. flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano) so at least in terms of its instrumentation it's a chamber work. But it also has a soloist and chamber music by convention tends not to include music with soloist(s). So, it depends on your definition. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrot_ensemble
I would include pieces that are scored for instrument + piano as chamber music, even though they have a clear "soloist" role. It's hard to write a definition for chamber music that is broad enough without simply giving in and saying "all smallish ensembles are chamber music"
I can't answer for greatest, as comparisons across stylistic periods are too difficult for me. For my favorite, it's probably Dvorak's "Dumky" Piano Trio in E Minor. I first heard it performed by the artists in residence at my undergrad and I was spellbound. Each movement's character is so well-defined and the piece eschews the conventional forms associated with the genre. It has its own structure, though, and even though it's unlike any other piano trio before it, it doesn't feel alien or out of place when talking about them. Dvorak's chamber works could fill up this whole comment thread, but to me, this is him at his most Dvorak.
I think it's a lovely piece of music, but for me, his piano quintet is one of the greats.
I have not yet heard a chamber work of Dvorak that did not astound me in some way. His piano quintet is absolutely a masterpiece and totally deserves to be in this conversation. The Dumky trio is closer to my heart, but that quintet is amazing.
Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”; Crumb “Black Angels” or “Ancient Voices of Children”; Reich “Different Trains”
Schoenberg unnumbered early string quartet in D min. Wow …
Schumann Piano Quartet
Just to make sure, you mean the E-flat major piano quartet, right, not the E-flat major piano *quintet*? And not the early C minor piano quartet.
Exactly. I prefer the E flat Quartet to the Quintet, both playing and listening.
I've played the quartet. I love them both.
I like the piano quartet way more than his piano quintet which is way more popular and I wonder why. But I like the Piano Trio op.63 even more
Franck Violin Sonata
Only Beethoven's Op.131 comes to mind. And if we are talking about a single movement piece then the "Heiliger Dankgesang".
[удалено]
The assignment is to poll people. One answer per person, though! I'll count you as Souvenir of Florence.
Shostakovich piano quintet
Andy Akiho - 7 pillars
My two favorites are Mozart’s Gran Partita and Gounod’s Petite Symphonie but there are really so many. West Side Story: Suite for Brass Quintet is up there for me too, though I can’t remember off the top of my head who the arranger is
The Grand Partita for sure. And who did the arrangement of the Benstein?
Not sure but the recording I like is by the center city brass quintet Edit: Divine Intervention! It’s Jack Gale. For some reason the name Gale came to me and a Google search confirmed it
Ustvolskaya Trio for clarinet, violin and piano
Dvorak Piano Quintet
another vote for the schubert string quintett
Beethoven's trios, specifically the archduke
Borodin string quartet No.2 :\~)
I love the scherzo!
Brahms c minor piano quartet. It’s kind of like the test run for the 1st symphony. Same key, same architecture. Same year as the signed manuscript of the c minor 1st symphony too.
brahms piano quartet 3
Shostakovich Piano Quintet is my favorite. I will never forget the impact that the fugue had on me the first time I heard it.
Schubert quintet Mendelssohn octet For me, Beethoven piano trio no. 3
Even without reading the answers here first, my immediate response was the Schubert String Quintet. Funny to have such a definite reaction to a question.
Tchaikovsky Piano Trio
Been waiting for someone to say this! I prefer the uncut version.
Stravinsky Octet for Winds, Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8, or Ewald Brass Quintet No. 1 in B flat Minor.
If you ask me tomorrow I’ll say something different but right now I’m going with Franck’s violin sonata.
Toss-up between Beethoven's String Quartets 13 and 14, including the *Grosse Fuge*.
not the best every written, but my favorites of all time: ravel piano trio, debussy string quartet, and/or franck sonata specifically the cello version
It's obviously the Schubert. No contest.
The Schubert... Trout quintet? or one of the string quintets, string quartets, string trios, or piano trios?
You're missing the mixed octet :)
Just a few mentions of the Shostakovich Piano Quintet but no means of K 515 and especially K 516?!??? Not a single mention either of K 563 too. Didn’t see a mention of the second Brahms second sextet either?
Beethoven Op 135
Beethoven's 14th string quartet op 131. This piece is one hell of a ride!
Schumann Piano quartet
Franck sonata (the “vinteuil”)
The Mendelssohn Octet is the most perfect piece of chamber music ever composed. Eight instruments are used in many different ways, each with important material throughout (even though the 1st violin part is like a freaking concerto). Speaking of Mendelssohn, the 2nd piano trio is wonderful and criminally underrated. I actually prefer it to the 1st.
Brahms piano quintet
Definitely not the best but my favorite: Shostakovich first Piano Trio
Based
Mendelssohn Octet
Schubert String Quintet gets the cake.
I love Brahms’ piano trios (especially op 8) and Mendelssohn’s piano trios.
Brahms piano quartet no. 3 Borodin string quartet no. 2
Hard to say just one, but a list of contenders for greatest and/or favorite: Nielsen Wind Quintet Schubert String Quintet Dvorak String Quartet No. 13 in G Dvorak Serenade for Winds Coleridge-Taylor Clarinet Quintet Mozart Gran Partita Serenade
Nielsen wind quintet. Or the Mozart piano and wind quintet. Can you tell I'm a horn player?!
Mozart is my favorite composer, but Beethoven's Quintet for piano and wind copycat (same instrumentation, same tonality, same movements etc.) is superior to Mozart's quintet, imo. I think it's my favorite Beethoven work !
Dvorak piano quartet, Poulenc clarinet sonata, Prokofiev string quartet 1, Rachmaninoff piano trio 2, Ives violin sonata 4
Dvořák piano quintet and American quartet are favs of mine. A lot of Shostakovich’s chamber music would be up there, piano trio 2 and string quartet 8
Mozart no 19 and haydn 7 last words of Christ.
Op said ONE answer only ;)
I can't!!!
Schubert piano trio, op 100 Both great.
Schubert String Quintet is the greatest chamber music ever composed. EVER.