what is chamber music

Chamber music is a form of classical music composed for a small group of instruments, traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. It is performed by a small number of performers, with one performer to a part, in contrast to orchestral music, in which each string part is played by a number of performers. Chamber music is often described as "the music of friends" because of its intimate nature. It requires special skills, both musical and social, that differ from the skills required for playing solo or symphonic works. The most popular chamber music works are sonatas for piano and one other instrument such as violin or cello and string quartets. Chamber music is still a significant part of contemporary classical music, and ensembles such as the Emerson Quartet, the Kronos Quartet, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center keep chamber music flourishing today.