String Quartet In The Musical Instrument
If you have been playing the violin for quite some time, or are thinking of learning how to play a string instrument, you may want to think about joining a string quartet. These groups play at a number of distinguished functions, and learning how to play with other musicians may give you the skill you need to become extremely talented at playing your instrument.
A string quartet is an ensemble of four string instruments, and usually consists of a cello, two violins, and a viola. The cello serves as the ‘bass’ for the string quartet, and the two violins serve as the instruments that carry the melodies that the quartet will play. The viola, which is a smaller version of the violin, is used for the high registers of the compositions that are played. In classical music, the string quartet is the most prominent or popular of the chamber ensembles.
String quartets have been a part of chamber and classical music since the late 18th century, when musical composers starting created songs that were to be played specifically by a quartet of strings. Composers like Joseph Haydn helped to make the string quartet popular, and his first works had five movements. The first movement was fast or up-tempo, then came a slow movement, a minuet, a trio, and a finale. This became the order of composition for other composers as well, and served as a blueprint for helping musicians to learn how to play together. Over the years, the string quartet has evolved, and many musicians are now a part of the piano quintet, which is a string quartet with an added piano, or a string quintet, which is an ensemble with an additional cello or viola; some groups also include a double bass in the string ensemble.
Later, during the classical era, the string quartet was used by famous musicians like Beethoven or Mozart. During this time, composers also started writing music for the quartet that took on one main tempo, in an attempt to capture the listener by telling a musical story. Mozart composed 23 works of music for the string quartet, eight of which were dedicated to Haydn, and Beethoven created sixteen musical pieces that can be played by a quartet.
These days, the string quartet can be seen at a number of elegant events, such as weddings or graduations. Many people also choose to have a string quartet play at their luncheons or dinner parties, since they add great complimentary music that is not too overpowering.
If you want to know more about the string quartet and the role that this ensemble plays in the history of music, you can visit sites like www.ehow.com, or you can find the instruments that you need in order to become part of a quartet when you visit www.musicworld.com.
