Chamber vs. Symphonic

[Diletante]

Take a side! 

[Gurn Blanston]

Take a side! 

No problem for me. Chamber music.

[The new erato]

Chamber any time.

[Bulldog]

A tough one, but I'll take chamber. 

[Joe Barron]

It's been a progression: when I was younger and just discovering the repertoire, I always started with a composer's symphonic music and worked my way to songs, chamber music and piano pieces. Now I go for the latter by a large margin. One of the big reasons I prefer Brahms to Wagner, for instance, is that Brahms wrote chamber music. With Beethoven, I listen to the chamber music almost exclusively, although that's probably because I've committed the nine symphonies to memory.

[Dana]

The two overlap almost as often as they don't. I chose banana.

[CD]

Chamber symphonies. 

[DavidW]

The two overlap almost as often as they don't. I chose banana.

Brilliant!

[secondwind]

This is a tough call.  There are many symphonies that are truly magnificent, and I can't imagine the world without them, but when it comes to my own preferences, I have to say that chamber music wins out.  There is something in the intimacy of the Brahms trio for clarinet, cello, and piano, or in Beethoven's string quartets, or Schubert's "Trout" quintet, or any number of other great chamber pieces, that I just don't experience in symphonies.  

[DavidW]

This is a tough call.  There are many symphonies that are truly magnificent, and I can't imagine the world without them, but when it comes to my own preferences, I have to say that chamber music wins out.  There is something in the intimacy of the Brahms trio for clarinet, cello, and piano, or in Beethoven's string quartets, or Schubert's "Trout" quintet, or any number of other great chamber pieces, that I just don't experience in symphonies.  

Chamber is absolute music to me.  No tricks, no theatrics just the music itself.  Now orchestral music was written for entertainment only until somewhere in the 19th century when it really became a serious affair, and then it really catches up.  I wouldn't expect most of Haydn's symphonies to have the gravity of one of his string quartets, but I do find that Brahms piano concertos match his piano quartets for example.

[Dana]

There is something in the intimacy of the Brahms trio for clarinet, cello, and piano, or in Beethoven's string quartets, or Schubert's "Trout" quintet, or any number of other great chamber pieces, that I just don't experience in symphonies.

      How about the numerous woodwind trios in Shostakovich's 5th? Or the flute/oboe calls near the end of the 2nd movement of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony?

[Diletante]

I love works from both types, but I chose symphonic merely because of the variety. Especially because you get not only symphonies, orchestral suites, tone poems, etc., but also CONCERTOS! I love the interaction, the fight of the instrument against the orchestra.

[Conor71]

I generally prefer orchestral music as I find the sound richer/more interesting  .

[CD]

Conor, I love your avatar (the Picasso)!

[Conor71]

Conor, I love your avatar (the Picasso)!

Cheers corey! 

[Opus106]

I will not be voting any time soon, but just to be clear, does chamber music include keyboard (solo) works?

[Dana]

...does chamber music include keyboard (solo) works?

      I think that that would count as solo repertoire, rather than chamber repertoire. Nobody counts the Bach Cello Suites as chamber music, although it would count under the archaic definition of the word.

[Opus106]

      I think that that would count as solo repertoire, rather than chamber repertoire. Nobody counts the Bach Cello Suites as chamber music, although it would count under the archaic definition of the word.

And so might the Brandenburgs. Just wanted to check with the poll master, for the inclusion of the solo repertoire could be an important factor. 0:)

[Dana]

You're right, of course. We shouldn't be rummaging through the OED. What's the verdict Diletante?

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

It's been a progression: when I was younger and just discovering the repertoire, I always started with a composer's symphonic music and worked my way to songs, chamber music and piano pieces.

Chamber is absolute music to me.  No tricks, no theatrics just the music itself.  

I can relate to these comments. For years I just ignored chamber music, not because I had some prejudice against it, but because I just liked the sound of a big orchestra. After I started branching out, I discovered that a lot of composers put their most interesting, rigorous and inspired ideas into the smaller forms. Chamber music doesn't give you a wall of sound or splashy effects to hide behind - if something isn't good, it shows.

Exploring chamber music also forced me to re-evaluate some composers. I didn't really understand Brahms' huge reputation when I knew only his orchestral music. Sure, it's good, but his chamber music is stellar.  0:)

Another aspect of chamber music that I like is the individual expressiveness of the musicians interacting with each other, something that is a lot rarer in symphonic music.