In music, a quartet (French: quatuor, German: Quartett, Italian: quartetto, Spanish: cuarteto) is a method of instrumentation (or a medium), used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts. Look up Quartet in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ...

Western art music

In Western art music, which is often referred to as "Classical music," string quartets are considered to be an important type of chamber music. String quartets consist of two violins, a viola, and a cello playing a multi-movement musical composition written in sonata form. The particular choice and number of instruments derives from the registers of the human voice: soprano, alto, tenor and bass.In the string quartet, two violins play the soprano and alto vocal registers, the viola plays the tenor register and the cello plays the bass register. The resident string quartet of the Library of Congress in 1963 A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string instruments—usually two violins, a viola and cello—or a piece written to be performed by such a group. ... Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... The viola (French, alto; German Bratsche) is a bowed string instrument. ... This article is about the stringed musical instrument. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article is about the voice-type. ... In music, an alto or contralto is a singer with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. ... This article is about Tenor vocalists in music. ... Bass (IPA: [], rhyming with face), when used as an adjective, describes tones of low frequency or range. ...

One of the early composers of string quartets, Luigi Boccherini, wrote 100 string quartets. Other important composers of string quartets include Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. The term "quartet" is also used to refer to a musical composition written for such a group. In string quartets, each player is typically given an allowing distinct part. Luigi Boccherini Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini (February 19, 1743 – May 28, 1805) was a classical era composer and cellist from Italy, whose music retained a courtly and galante style while he matured somewhat apart from the major European musical centers. ... “Haydn” redirects here. ... “Mozart” redirects here. ... “Beethoven” redirects here. ...

Another common type of Western art music quartet is the piano quartet, consisting of violin, viola, cello, and piano. A piano quartet is a musical ensemble consisting of a piano and three other instruments, or a piece written for such a group. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ...

Jazz

Quartets are widely used in jazz and jazz fusion music. A standard quartet formation in jazz is an ensemble consisting of a "horn" (e.g., saxophone, trumpet, etc.), a chordal instrument (e.g., electric guitar, piano, Hammond organ, etc.), a bass instrument (e.g., double bass or bass guitar) and a drum kit. This configuration is sometimes modified by using a second "horn" in place of the chordal instrument, or by using two chordal instruments (e.g., piano and electric guitar). For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Jazz fusion (or jazz-rock fusion or fusion) is a musical genre that merges elements of jazz with other styles of music, particularly pop, rock, folk, reggae, funk, metal, country, R&B, hip hop, electronic music and world music. ... For other uses, see Horn. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ... Trumpeter redirects here. ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... The Hammond organ is an electric organ which was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company until the 1970s. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... For other uses, see Horn. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ...

Popular music

The quartet lineup is very common in pop and rock music. A standard quartet formation in pop and rock music is an ensemble consisting of two electric guitars, a bass guitar, and a drum kit. This configuration is sometimes modified by using a keyboard instrument (e.g., organ, piano, synthesizer) or a soloing instrument (e.g., saxophone) in place of the second electric guitar. For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany The organ is a keyboard instrument played using one or more manuals and a pedalboard. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... For other uses, see Synthesizer (disambiguation). ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ...

Vocal Quartet

Western art music

In the Western art music tradition, vocal music arranged for four singers in an opera or choral work is referred to as a quartet. For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... This article is about choirs, musical ensembles containing singers. ...

Popular music

In 20th century US popular music, the term "vocal quartet" is used to refer to ensembles of four singers, usually of the same sex. Barbershop quartets and Gospel quartets typically use male singers. Some well-known female US vocal quartets include The Chiffons; The Chordettes; and The Lennon Sisters. Some well-known male US vocal quartets include The Ames Brothers; Chi-Lites; The Dixie Hummingbirds;The Golden Gate Quartet;The Four Aces;Four Freshmen;The Four Seasons;The Four Tops;The Hilltoppers;The Jordanaires; Mills Brothers;The Rascals; and The Skylarks. Some mixed-gender vocal quartets include The Pied Pipers; The Mama's & The Papa's; The Merry Macs; and The Weavers. Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture. ... While the term Gospel quartet includes any quartet singing evangelical-style hymnody, the term frequently refers specifically to a style of vocal performance within Southern Gospel music, with roots in a form of shapenote singing. ... The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960. ... The Chordettes was a female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella, and specializing in traditional pop music. ... The Lennon Sisters were a singing group consisting of four siblings: Dianne (born December 1, 1939), Peggy (born April 8, 1941), Kathy (born August 2, 1943), and Janet (born June 15, 1946). ... The Ames Brothers were a singing quartet from Malden, Massachusetts who were particularly famous in the 1950s for their traditional pop music hits. ... The Chi-Lites were a Chicago-based smooth soul band from the early 1970s, one of the few from the period to not come from Memphis or Philadelphia. ... The Dixie Hummingbirds is one of the most influential groups in gospel music, spanning more than 75 years from the jubilee quartet style of the 1920s, through the hard gospel quartet style of Gospels golden age in the 1940s and 1950s, to the eclectic pop-tinged songs of the... The Golden Gate Quartet is the most successful of all of the African-American gospel music groups who sang in the jubilee quartet style. ... The Four Aces were a pop singing group. ... The Four Freshmen were an American vocal group popular from the 1950s through the early 1960s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, and showtunes. ... The Hilltoppers were a popular singing group. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The Mills Brothers were a major African-American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century producing more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and garnered at least three dozen gold records. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Skylarks was a rock band from Liverpool, England. ... The Pied Pipers were a popular singing group in the late 1930s and 1940s. ... The Mamas & the Papas (credited as The Mamas and the Papas on the debut album cover) were a leading vocal group of the 1960s. ... The Merry Macs were an American close-harmony pop music quartet active from the 1920s till the 1960s and best known for the hits “Mairzy Doats,” “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” and Sentimental Journey. ... The Weavers were an immensely popular and influential folk music quartet from Greenwich Village, New York, United States. ...

See also

• List of musical quartets

A quartet is a common ensemble in musical history. ...

External links

• Solaris Quartet - Romanian Strings Quartet
• Romanian string quartet, Cvartetul Arpeggione