Sound and Timbre - Types of Ensembles

What is an ensemble?
A group of musicians who perform together.

Solo - a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer. Performing a solo is "to solo", and the performer is known as a soloist.

Duet -  a piece of music that is performed by two singers or musicians.

Trio - a piece of music that is performed by three singers or musicians.

Quartet - a piece of music that is performed by four singers or musicians.

String Quartet - a musical group that includes two violins, a viola and a cello.

Quintet - a piece of music that is performed by five singers or musicians.

A cappella - a group or solo singing without instrumental accompaniment.

Accompaniment - providing background music for a performance. 

Unaccompanied - performing without supporting harmonies.

Choir (Chorus) - a group of six (6) or more musicians performing choral music (vocal music), usually accompanied by a piano.

Brass band - a group of musicians playing brass instruments and sometimes also percussion.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA DEFENSE FORCE BAND

Steel Band/Orchestra - are groups of musicians who play steelpan instruments including the Single Tenor, Double Tenor, Double Second, Cello, Guitar, Quadrophonic and Bass together as an orchestral ensemble, often with expansive percussion and rhythm section.

Symphony Orchestra - A symphony (or philharmonic) orchestra is an orchestra of 70 - 100 players, who are divided into strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. 

Chamber Orchestra - a small orchestra of about fifty (50) musicians or less.

String Orchestra - A string orchestra is an orchestra consisting solely of a string section. The instruments of such an orchestra are most often the following: the violin, which is divided into first and second violin players, the viola, the cello, and the double bass.

Concert band - a group of musicians that sits down to play brass, woodwind and percussion instruments.

Marching band - is a group in which instrumental musicians perform for entertainment, and prepare for a competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwind and percussion instruments, and colour guards.