Common Chamber Music Combinations
- Duos (most common): Sonatas for any instrument and pianos, but any combination of 2 instruments are possible
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Trios (most common):
- String trio: the most common is viola, violin, cello
- Piano trio: violin, cello, piano, or a wind instrument, cello and piano
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Quartets (most common):
- String quartets: 2 violins, viola, and cello
- Piano quartet: violin, viola, cello, piano
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Quintet (most common):
- String quintet: string quartet plus an extra viola or cello
- Piano quintet: string quartet plus a piano
- Brass quintet: 2 trumpets, trombone, french horn, and tuba
- Blank quintet: string quartet plus the wind instrument which could be a clarinet, viola, or cello
- Woodwind quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, french horn, and bassoon
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Sextet (most common):
- String sextet: 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos
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Septets (most common)
- Wind Septet: Beethoven’s Septet- violin, viola, clarinet, french horn, bassoon, cello, and double bass.
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Octet (most common)
- Mendelssohn's Octet: 2 string quartets
- Schubert’s Octet: clarinet, horn, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass
- Those are the best known combinations, but any combination is possible including: voice, harp, saxophone, guitar, or percussion