ensemble
A group of musicians who perform together.
In Depth
An ensemble can range from a duo to a full symphony orchestra. The term encompasses chamber groups (string quartets, wind quintets, piano trios), jazz combos, rock bands, choirs, and orchestras. What defines an ensemble is not its size but the collaborative act of making music together.
Ensemble playing requires a fundamentally different set of skills from solo performance. Musicians must listen constantly to their colleagues, adjust their balance and intonation in real time, and subordinate individual expression to the collective sound. The best ensembles develop an almost telepathic communication — the Guarneri String Quartet played together for 45 years and could anticipate each other's musical intentions without any visible signal.
The Berlin Philharmonic operates as a democracy — the musicians vote on their own conductor, and every member has an equal say in artistic decisions.