Chamber music is a term used for instrumental music performed by a small group of players (between two and eight). It is so-called because it was originally performed in a chamber or small room, rather than a larger building such as a cathedral or a concert hall.
| Baroque | Classical | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Often Contrapuntal / polyphonic | Often homophonic or melodic and accompaniment |
| Dynamics | Change suddenly creating terraced dynamics. | May change gradually (crescendos and diminuendos). |
| Ornamentation | Frequently Used | Used less often |
| Contrasts | Individual movements keep the same mood throughout. | Contrasts and changes of mood occur more often. |
In both cases the accompaniment was played from a continuo part, which provided both a bass line (usually a cello) and directions for the chords to use (improvised on a harpsichord).
Most Baroque sonata contain at least four short movements, all or mostly in the same key. Slow and fast movements usually alternate and many are in various dance styles of the period.
During the Classical period, much chamber music followed a four-movement plan: a fast first movement in sonata form, a slow second movement, a minuet and trio (a type of dance with 3 beats in a bar) and a final fast movement (often in rondo form).
This work is from the Baroque period.
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