The Classical Era sees the fading out of continuo, and the rise of the string quartet, as well as new instruments – viola da gamba, harpsichords, lutes and other instruments leave, while pianos and clarinets arrive.
Chamber music takes as its starting point a string duo: 1 violin, and 1 cello.
From here, you add:
- String Trio = (1 violin, 1 cello) + 1 viola
- String Quartet = (1 violin, 1 cello) + 1 viola + 1 violin
- String Quintet = (1 violin, 1 cello) + 1 viola + 1 violin + either 1 double bass or 1 cello
When you have a non-string instrument in the group, that then takes the title:
- Piano Trio = String Duo (1 violin, 1 cello) + 1 piano
- Flute Quartet = String Trio (1 violin, 1 cello + 1 viola) + 1 flute
- Clarinet Quintet = String Quartet (1 violin, 1 cello + 1 viola + 1 violin) + 1 clarinet
There are then some specialist groups:
- Piano Wind Quintet = 1 Piano + 4 wind instruments (usually 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 1 horn, 1 bassoon)
- Nonet = String Quartet + double bass + 4 wind instruments
- String Octet = 2 x String Quartet
- Brass Trio = 1 x trumpet, 1 x horn, 1 x trombone
