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Chamber music (from Italian camera, ‘room’), in European art music, uses substantial intellectual forms with small forces: string quartets instead of symphonies, sonatas or trios instead of concertos, lieder and other kinds of ‘art song’ instead of opera. By its nature, chamber music adds intimacy to intellectual density. This has, however, not prevented it from becoming a major concert form, played by virtuosi—much of it is beyond the ability of most amateurs in large concert halls just as often as in recital rooms. KMcL |
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