The development of chamber music in the 20th century has been inseparable from the major developments of music in general during the past hundred years. All styles—from folk music to serialism to free atonality—were explored in various chamber music combinations, just as they were in other mediums. In the early part of the 20th century, the monumental sound of the ever-growing symphony orchestra (as exercised by Mahler) gave way to smaller, more transparent combinations of instruments.
Composers such...