The Music of Friends

Chamber music is any art music traditionally performed within a large room by a small number of musicians, and it’s this intimate setting that resulted in chamber music being referred to as “the music of friends”.  Prior to the 19^th century, the ‘friends’ of chamber music included royalty, aristocrats and their employee-composers, and performances were strictly a private affair in ‘chamber’ rooms of a palace, mansion, or manor house.  The evolution of chamber music began as social orders throughout Europe changed and improvements were made in tone, volume and power of string instruments, allowing for public performances in large halls and an expanded repertoire of techniques for composers.  And, it continues today with influences from other music genres and innovative new music that often challenges the established fundamental characteristics of chamber music.

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Since 1969, the Chamber Music Society Lincoln Center (CMS) has brought the experience of chamber music to the general public with a wide variety of concert series and educational programs for listeners of all ages and sensibilities.

The CMS 2017-18 live stream season includes a revolving multi-generational and international roster of some of the world’s finest chamber musicians in concert, recitals, special classes and lecture series. Great for listening and learning!

Late Night Rose concerts express the spirit of intimacy between musician and listener with chamber music classics and novelties in a cabaret-style setting.  New Music programs bring together some of today’s finest living composers, allowing listeners to experience musical innovation.

If you missed the live stream broadcast of a CMS 2017-18 performance, you can watch video recordings by clicking on the “Watch Again” button ➡ located on the media players below.

Want more music?  Take a look to see what’s live streaming at the Detroit Orchestra Symphony  concert hall

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Feature photo of Orava string quartet is courtesy of Flickr user, Ryan Egan, CC BY-NC 2.0