music ensembles
Bands and orchestras
Music ensembles are groups of musicians who perform together.
The term covers everything from duets to symphony orchestras, but typically suggests a smaller group than a full orchestra—chamber ensembles, jazz ensembles, choral ensembles.
She joined a baroque ensemble that specializes in period instruments.
The word emphasizes collective performance rather than solo work.
- marching bandMobile musical ensemble
- pep bandAthletic event ensemble
- drum corpsBrass, percussion, color guard
- big bandLarge jazz ensemble
- trioGroup of three
duo · gospel choir · string quartet · concert band · community orchestra · pit orchestra · nonet · brass quintet · sextet · barbershop quartet · octet · symphony orchestra · gamelan · jazz band · rhythm section · garage band · steel drum band · piano duo
music ensemblessoloist
Unaccompanied performer
solo artist · solo act · one-man band · singer-songwriter · busker
music ensemblessilence
Total lack of sound
cacophony · noise · dissonance · ambient sound · white noise