What is it about chamber music?

[pianowelsh]

What is it about chamber music that you guys really enjoy when your playing in a small group or even duo?!  I have to say I like the sense of shared ownership - that we can present soemthing together that we have honed - it has a history.  Its also nice rehearsing with someone else - being able to bounce ideas off them instead of sitting on your own.  I also enjoy the way that it is so efficient because when your working together  your not so self indulgent in the way you work - you deal with the most important things and the rest progresses out of it.  I find that chamber music improves my own playing no end - im sure many of you experience the same.

[tds]

tis about thee and me thing. no?

[pianowelsh]

Indeeeed yze! how you doin tds?? I have to say I also quite like being a cog in a bigger wheel?!? hope thats not to cryptic?

[rc]

I look forward to the day when I work with other musicians.  I remember hearing the Beaux Arts trio on CBC one day, playing live and interviewing.  I can't remember exactly what they played, but it was all incredible, so balanced and musical.  I also remember the pianist is ancient!

The last time I'd played with other musicians was around highschool, it was fun but also had a lot of interpersonal difficulties...  Most of the others were more interested in partying than practicing, and my own egoism was an obsticle at the time.  Eventually we spent more time being angry at each other than playing music.

[rach n bach]

It is a like a soul to soul conversation.  There is an almost inexplicable feeling of being to communicate with the other person/people.  I have found that 1 hour of practice with a couple close friends is more relaxing and productive than 3 or 4 by myself. 

Yes, there are issues, but I have been fortunate enough to work only with very close friends, and this means that most of the stuff I have encountered has been interpertaional.  We bicker over this note, and over that... but at the same time it improves all of our skills with music. 

I have found that 4-hand music in particular is excellent for improvement.  There is something about sitting right next to a person and sharing your heart with each other that is great... and maybe just a bit romantic... but hey, the music comes out better then!

RnB