chamber orchestra

Small orchestra, consisting of about 25 players, made up of a small group of strings with a selection of woodwind, either single or in pairs. This was the size of a standard orchestra until the 19th century. When the wind sections expanded, followed by an increase in the number of string players to maintain a balanced sound, the orchestra grew to the size of the modern symphony orchestra. In the 20th century, the chamber orchestra again became fashionable. This was partly as a reaction against the Romantic legacy of Richard Wagner (which included the use of large-scale instrumental groups), partly as a result of economic conditions, and partly as a result of the interest in early music. Famous chamber orchestras include the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.