I read that quartets have 2 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello; I read that quintets have 2 violins, 2 violas and 1 cello; etc. But... must they? What if a quartet has 1 violin, 1 viola and 2 cellos? What if a quintent has 1 violin or viola, 2 cellos and 2 doubles basses?
Whatever your answer is, does it also apply to ensembles of other genres (rock, jazz, etc.) and/or groups (pianos, winds, etc.)?
"Vital" to what, exactly?
The obvious answer is that one combination of a number of instruments can potentially achieve different sounds and perform different arrangements from a different combination and/or number of instruments.
Glasgow's FOREMOST authority Italics = irony. Infer the opposite please.
I meant how vital is it to follow the rule?
shareVital to what? You need to have an objective that you're trying to achieve or avoid for something to be a rule.
Glasgow's FOREMOST authority Italics = irony. Infer the opposite please.
Well it is a very stupid question showing no knowledge at all of music, but I'll give it a go just in case the OP is not trolling.
A "quartet", a "quintet", etc are not musical terms, they simply refer to a number. So any group of 4 can be called a "quartet". A quartet of scientists. A quartet of singers. A quartet of musical instruments being played.
Music has been written by many different composers for a "string" quartet and the parts are commonly 2 violins, a viola, and a cello. However if one wanted to they could play that piece using any 4 instruments. For example a brass quartet or quintet will often play music originally written for strings. A piccolo trumpet is often used to play high flute or piccolo parts, as an example.
There are no rules, only customs. If a lover of classical music attended a concert of string quartet music and had to endure 4 double bass playing the 4 parts he/she would probably be disappointed, unless they knew ahead of time and wanted to hear those pieces played by those instruments.
Music written for a quartet can be played by any 4 musical instruments, with appropriate transpositions, but it won't necessarily sound pleasing.
..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Thanks for your answer i.e. the last 3 paragraphs.
Well it is a very stupid question showing no knowledge at all of music, but I'll give it a go just in case the OP is not trolling.
Go ahead. Keep insulting me out of nowhere. It keeps exposing you as a troll. By the way, did I pretend to be a music expert?
A "quartet", a "quintet", etc are not musical terms, they simply refer to a number. So any group of 4 can be called a "quartet". A quartet of scientists. A quartet of singers. A quartet of musical instruments being played.
That's like saying that "Bass" isn't an instrument since it's also the sound (or a fish). They're synonims. Everyone say "Quartet" to refer to musical ensembles.
Keep making stupid posts and I'll keep exposing your stupidity. You say you first read up on quartets and still asked a stupid question? Point proven.
..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Quartet" to refer to musical ensembles
Yes. They refer to the number of instruments in the ensemble. Nothing more.
Glasgow's FOREMOST authority Italics = irony. Infer the opposite please.
While a "string quartet" is perhaps the type that most often comes to mind when people think "quartet", there are others.
I once sang as a member of a Barbershop Quartet, 4 voices singing tenor, lead, baritone, and bass. No instruments. In casual conversation we would simply talk about the "quartet."
The Four Freshmen of the 1950s and the Four Seasons of the 1960s were vocal quartets with musical accompaniment.
I also know there are brass quartets and percussion quartets, with some music written specifically for those groupings. And there probably are other quartets that I do not know of.
In fact put together any four instruments to play a selection together and you have a "quartet."
But the crux of the original question is "can you use a different set of 4 instruments when playing music written for a String Quartet" and the answer of course is "yes." It probably won't sound as pleasing but there is nothing to prevent it.
Plus if one is concerned about a quartet of stringed instruments then the appropriate term is "string quartet", not just "quartet."
..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway