Scores & Links

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
minuet, menuet [F], Menuett [G], menuetto [I], minuetto [I]—A graceful, courtly French dance of the Baroque and Classical period with a triple meter and a moderate tempo.It was introduced at the court of Louis XIV. In classical forms such as the symphony or chamber music, the minuet evolved into the more vigorous scherzo.
octet, octett [G], octuor [F]—an ensemble (work) of (for) 8 instruments
partita [I], parthia, partie—originally, an instrumental piece as well as, more specifically, a variation. Eventually, a synonym for suite.
rondo—sectional movement form featuring a recurring refrain between contrasting episodes in a variety of plans, a typical one being ABACABA (A is the refrain; B and C are episodes). Often used for finales.
trio (2)—The middle section of three-part (ternary) forms such as the minuet and scherzo yielding the structure: Minuet - Trio - Minuet (repeat). The trio often brings contrast by change of key, tempo, mood or texture i.e. a shift in instrumental scoring.
wind octet, Harmonie, Harmoniemusic—an ensemble or a work for an ensemble comprising 8 wind instruments. There is a variety of instrumental combinations. Perhaps the most common scoring is 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, and 2 horns. This combination has a rich history in the Classical era (18th and 19th centuries) known as Harmoniemusik with the ensemble called Harmonie or Harmonie octet. Other octet combinations include the flute (usually replacing one of the oboes or the English horn. Often, the octet is "deepened" with a ninth bass instrument like the contrabassoon or the double bass (contrabass). The 20th century brings the famous Stravinsky octet: flute, clarinet, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones. Explore the wind octet with Harmonie scoring and Explore the all wind octet with a diversity of scorings