Chamber music ?

[kghayesh]

I nearly got fed up with solo playing and would like to try playing chamber music. And i mean any kind of chamber music ( violin, flute, singing, 2 pianos, 4 hands,......etc. )

My question is.... Does chamber music require extra skills?? ( maybe coordination, perfecting, no slips at all) or it is like the traditional solo repretoire with easy pieces and hard pieces??

And, to play chamber music, there should be a partner of course. So, how can i find someone to agree to play with me or should i wait until someone tells me so  ( I don't think this is a pretty much good idea)

[nicolaievich]

Well, I started playing chamber music with a cellist that I met some months ago by pure casuality. The most important thing is you are no longer a soloist, and you should sound like that, in perfect harmony with the other instrument(s). We, pianists, like the piano to SOUND, with chamber music we must retain that impulse and learn to construct the music in agreement with other musician(s).
It's a really nice experience  I enjoy it a lot.

Just try to contact people, tell them you are trying to play chamber music with a violinist, cellist, or whatever. There's always someone that knows somebody else that knows ..... ecc. I wish you luck!

[Kassaa]

The skill necessary for chamber music is listening. There's IMO less perfection needed thatn with solo playing, as you can muffle wrong notes away under the other people playing

For finding people: There's probably a chamber music program at the closest conservatory/music school, so ask around .

[BoliverAllmon]

I was told the biggest difference between solo and chamber music is rhtyhmn and timing. because you have another performer playing as well, you have t obe perfect in your timing.

[whynot]

The most important thing in the playing is to really be responsive to what the other people are doing.  Read their parts as continually as possible while playing, and notice whose part should be dominant from phrase to phrase.  Sometimes it will be yours, but not usually.  The other players/singers will have technical, logistical and emotive needs that take time or need some other response from you.  Try to notice those early on and be helpful.  For example, singers need the support of extra volume when they sing high, otherwise they feel too exposed.  You might not have a crescendo written in your music at that point, but it's extremely helpful to do one anyway.  And any instrument that breathes will (sometimes) take extra time to do so, even though the score might not indicate this.  If you try to hear what people need and do it, you'll have more work than you know what to do with.  To get started, you can put up a sign at a music department or music store
that you're a pianist looking for chamber or accompanying work.  Your phone will ring off the hook.  If you don't want to play for beginners, you might specify "for intermediate and advanced".  Or just  call a local teacher of violin, voice etc and offer to do some playing for his/her students.  That will get immediate results.  Have fun!

[franzliszt2]

Chamber music is so much fun, I love it!! its great musically, and socially, I made really good friends doing chambver music. You have to do shostakovich 2nd trio¬!!!!!! greatest piece, also mendelsohn d minonor trio, the list is endless

[kamike]

I have accompanied vocal soloists for years but would also like to move into chamber music.  The accompanist role seems to suit me better than solo performing. 

When two or more performers get in the "zone", it's almost magic.  I love piano solo stuff, but classical and romantic quartets and quintets are, to me, very moving.  While
many of the piano parts are far from easy, there is a synergy that often evolves with like-minded musicians that really motivates and captivates one's mind, making playing the paino fun and easier to learn.

My piano technician suggested that I contact our local University and volunteer to accompany students...think I'll give it a try.   Another idea I had was just to post a few ads here and there and see if any local amateur musicians might be interested in forming some type of group.

[alzado]

One of the best comments I have ever seen about chamber music --

One wag wrote that at a chamber music concert, the only people who really seem to be enjoying themselves are the performers.

This is true.  The string quartet performers look ecstatic, whereas the audience appears to be mummified.

Case in point--   franzliszt2 writes, "Chamber music is so much fun, I love it!!"  But very possibly, the audience is going into rigor mortis.

[whynot]

Well, this doesn't have to be the case, but it's an excellent point and happens often.  This problem illustrates the difference between playing to/for yourself and to/for the audience.  I have a performer friend who loves to say, "The only thing that matters is that the performer has a good time.  If you enjoy it, the audience will, too."  This is not true!  I mean, it is for some audience members, but doesn't work at ALL on me, nor for many other concertgoers.  Some performers really need to be more giving.  If you play with the same nuance that works in your living room, the expressive gestures aren't big enough to convey your ideas in a concert hall.  We have to think about what's engaging for the audience and make our ideas clear.  And also LOOK GOOD.  A woman gave a concert in my city a while back who played quite well--and looked like a million bucks.  Bright red flowy silk dress, sexy in a very classy way (no cleavage), sexy shoes (these were perhaps a mistake, because her pedaling was not very nuanced, but anyway...).  And of course people noticed that she played well, but she was also just wonderful to watch--and since people are watching in a live concert, why not look fantastic?  But back to the playing-for-oneself thing, singers are guilty of this, too, if they're not stopped.  They close their eyes and sing to themselves, which is a big no-no, but it feels good and you have to really sit on some people to break this habit.  I'm so pleased to see all the people here who play chamber music.         

[contrapunctus]

Some of the best chamber music was written for the Piano Trio: Piano, Violin, and Cello. Beethoven, Mozart, and especially Haydn wrote many many books of trio music. Beethoven's "Ghost" trio, and some of Haydn's are my favorite.  For recordings check out Emmanuel Ax's group: Ax, Yo yo Ma on cello, and I forgot the name of the violinist; they are the best. Henle publishes all the books of trios by the aformentioned composers.

[dinosaurtales]

If you like accompanying, you'll love chamber music!  From what I can tell, though the toughest part will be finding other players who have your same skills and mind set towards it.  - for example, do you like to just get together and read through stuff for fun?  or would ou rather select a couple of pieces to work on in your own time, then rehearse for a performance later?

There is chamber music at all levels, and some of it is incredibly tough!  But it's fun when you find other players that you like to get to gether with! 

Go for it!  and Merry Christmas!

[g_s_223]

On this topic, a recent thread about Brahms' Piano Quintet is worth reading again: https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,14347.0.html

In terms of contacts, you could try talking to any voice or string teachers in your neighbourhood - I'd expect some of their students will be looking for accompanists.

Happy Christmas! 

[kamike]

Thanks for the suggestions.  Maybe sometime later we can revisit this and see what has happened in the meantime.

Best wishes to all for a great new year.

[phillip21]

My experience of chamber music is largely accompanying solo instrumentalists for exams (up to diploma level) and local competitions.  The main problem I have with it is that whereas with solos I can choose pieces that suit my hand size (although I have a good  total stretch, I cannot do some chords within the octave that most other pianists can) I have no choice in the accompaniments I have to play.  It can be soul destroying practising a difficult piano part in the knowledge that however much work you do, you know that there are other people out there who will always be able to play the works better.  For example, I recently accompanied a flautist in the Grovlez 'Romance and Scherzo'.  There is no possible way that I could play all the notes in the left hand chords in the latter part of the scherzo - spreading the chords would have spoilt the effect and slowed things down.  I had to leave some notes out and move others to a different octave, which is unsatisfying.

[teresa_b]

I've played some chamber music, and i recommend it!  I love it.  But the one thing I disagree with is that you must enjoy "accompanying"!   For example, I will be playing piano in Beethoven Op 1 no1 Trio with violin and cello this spring for a fundraiser for the Chamber Orchestra of Florida.   Beethoven at the time being a young composer and pianist, The piano part is by far the most prominent and challenging of the three.  (Not that all chamber pieces are, or should be, that way) 

But in trios, quartets, quintets, (even sonatas for violin and piano) etc, you as pianist are an equal part of the ensemble, NOT an "accompanist."  Mind you, some old lady in the audience will come up to you afterward and tell you what a good accompanist you are, and you just smile and say, "thanks,"     But you know it was the hard work and effort of several musicians to become "one" that made the performance!

All the best, Teresa

[burstroman]

Playing chamber music is a truly high calling, you will find some of the loveliest music ever written. It develops sensitivity and true musicianship.  Am I prejudiced?  yes.  Don't miss the chance.