What is an ensemble?
An ensemble is a group that performs music together. The word comes from French and means 'together'. In a solo one person carries everything. In an ensemble, each player shares the work.
Every ensemble needs three things: a shared beat (everyone keeps the same pulse), a shared pitch (everyone is in tune), and listening (everyone hears the others as well as themselves).
Small ensembles: solo, duet, trio, quartet
- Solo (1): one voice or instrument, often with an accompanist such as a tanpura, piano or tabla.
- Duet (2): two voices or instruments. One may lead the tune and the other sings a second line.
- Trio (3): for example violin, cello and piano, or three singers.
- Quartet (4): the classic string quartet has two violins, a viola and a cello. A vocal quartet is often soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
In a small ensemble every player is easy to hear, so each one must be careful and reliable. There is no place to hide.
Vocal ensembles: choirs and singing groups
A choir (or chorus) is a large group of singers. Singers are put in sections by the range of their voice:
- Soprano: highest voices (often children and women).
- Alto: lower women's or children's voices.
- Tenor: higher men's voices.
- Bass: lowest voices.
This is written SATB. A choir may sing in unison (everyone the same notes), in harmony (different notes at the same time), or a cappella (no instruments). Other vocal ensembles include folk groups singing in call and response, devotional groups, and school assembly choirs.
Instrumental ensembles: bands and orchestras
An orchestra has four families: strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass), woodwind (flute, clarinet, oboe), brass (trumpet, trombone, horn) and percussion (drums, cymbals). A conductor keeps the beat with a baton and shows when each group should enter.
A band is usually smaller and is built round a theme: a brass band, a rock band (guitars, bass, drums), a jazz combo, or a marching band. Music traditions all over the world have their own ensembles: Indian classical groups with a lead voice or instrument plus tabla, tanpura and others, Indonesian gamelan, West African drum groups and many more.
How to be a good ensemble player
- Listen first. If you cannot hear the others, you are too loud.
- Balance. The melody should be a little louder; the support softer.
- Blend. Match the style, loudness and tone of your neighbours.
- Tune. Check your pitch before you start.
- Count and breathe together. Watch the leader or conductor and take a breath at the same time.
- Know your part and others' too. Mark your entries, rests and loud or soft changes.
Try it: at home, clap a steady beat with a friend. One of you keeps the beat, and the other claps a pattern over it. Swap places. You have just made a rhythm duet.
Key formulas and definitions
- Numbers: solo 1, duet 2, trio 3, quartet 4, quintet 5, sextet 6
- Choir voices (high to low): Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass = SATB
- Orchestra families: strings, woodwind, brass, percussion
- Key terms: ensemble, melody, harmony, unison, a cappella, conductor, balance, blend
Worked examples
1. A choir has 12 singers, shared equally between S, A, T and B. How many singers are in each section?
There are 4 sections. 12 ÷ 4 = 3 singers in each section.
2. A school group has a violin, a flute, a trumpet and a drum. Which orchestra family does each belong to?
Violin: strings. Flute: woodwind. Trumpet: brass. Drum: percussion.
3. In a duet, the singer of the harmony part sings much louder than the melody singer. What is the problem and how do you fix it?
The balance is wrong. The tune gets hidden. The harmony singer should sing a little softer, listen to the other voice, and match the tone so the two voices blend.
Common mistakes
- Thinking louder is better. In an ensemble, if you drown the others the music is spoiled.
- Mixing up duet and trio. Count the number of different players: duet 2, trio 3.
- Thinking a choir has only one part. Most choirs sing four parts, SATB.
- Starting without checking pitch or beat with the others.