Figure 1.--This 1903 portraits shows 15 younths of differentages holding mandolins, violins and guitars--a string ensemble. The group is not identified, but we would gues it was formed at a high school. The names of the youths pictured in the portrait ng men seen in the photograph are written in pencil on the back. The names include: Leonard Skarie, David Stickney, Reid Edwards, Will Weigand, Paul Johnson, Hugo Nelson, Reuben Paulson, Russell Nelson, James Parker, Foster Parker and Lloyd Edwards. Also written on the back is "June, 1903", presumably at the end of the school year.
The main image was printed on a piece of 13 1/2" by 10 1/2" photographic paper. The photographic paper is affixed (and covers) a 13" by 10 1/2" piece of fairly heavy cardboard stock.
An ensemble is a small music group which has a single unifying feature such as the particular genre performed or the instruments used. Some ensembles have a mix of instruments, but are much smaller than orchestras.
They differ from orchestras both in the this specialization and in size. There are many types of ensembles. Choirs and bands might be considered ensembles, but we have addressed them separately in HBC. Ensembles might include certain stypes oy instruments such as string emnsmbles. Ensembles specializing in music genre might include medieval, classical, jazz, and many other specialties. In recent years esemles relecting ethnic music from America's increasing diversity have become popular. For children and youth not yet ready for orchestral performance, ensembles allow them to hone their skills as well as pursur musival genre of particular interest. Ensenmles are organized at many secondary schools and even more so at universities. The first music first composed for small ensenbles was writen by German Baroque composers, including mudic for strings, brass, and woodwinds, as well as choirs, pipe organ, harpsichord, and clavichord. We are not sure when Americans began to organize ensembles in which children participated. We begin to see them in the late-19th century as secondary schools became well established.
Chamber music was one of the most important types of musics performed by ensembles. Ensemble groups are small enough that a small number of interested individuals can organize and in whih they can participate. Chamber music is seen as more intimate because of the small size of the groupos than symphonic works requiring large uniforms. It also brings music to aider audience as many people can not attend symphonic performances held in large cities.
