Small Ensembles Research Task

1. Define Small Ensembles.

2. Make a list of as many small ensembles as you can find.
3. Create a timeline from the year 1600 to 2016 on when particular small
ensembles were created and relevant. Include as many as you can.
4. What are the benefits of a small ensemble?
5. What are the cons of a small ensemble?
6. Name three famous ensembles (from any time period) and note down the
instruments used, types of performances played and where they occur, and
some of their most popular pieces.
7. Choose one of the three ensembles you just looked up and pick a piece of
their music. Analyse this piece under the musical concepts.
a. Duration
b. Pitch
c. Dynamics and Expressive Techniques
d. Tone Colour
e. Texture
f. Structure
8. If you have completed all of the above, open MuseScore and create a new
song in the format of a small ensemble (your choice). Try to keep the
instruments to as close as possible to one of the small ensembles you have
previously researched. Compose a 32 bar piece of music for the small
ensemble. Think about how you will manipulate the concepts of music in your
composition to make it as interesting and creative as possible.