String quartet chamber music : the personal way of music development

Abstract

The subject of this thesis is about chamber music and more specifically string quartet. How and why chamber music should be a real part of a musician’s life. In the introduction, it is explained why it is important to play chamber music and what qualities a musician needs to be good at it. Then a description of what is chamber music litterally is exposed. The history recounts what was chamber music from its early beginings until our days and why it has so much evolves. About interpretation, there are several steps. First of all, the training and practicing; there are keys to know about to have a good result of playing string quartet chamber music such as who is the leader; how to receive and give back the music which is being played; how to be a good aware accompanist and the question of the interpretation point of view. Then about how to play together and have a common sound; some techniques can help like bowings, fingerings and vibrato and finally how to find a proper balance in a chamber music group. Then arrives the problem of expressive intonation and its relation with knowledge of harmony and how to practice it. At the last, the very important role of the rhythm when it comes to play together. In the last part, it will be showed why chamber music in vital to a musician because there is only few options for a string player such as soloist, orchestra player or chamber music player and that last option combines all advantages of a leader and an accompanist. The conclusion explains why chamber music string quartet is an unique exprerience of its kind.