The sextet and septet

The sextet is a group of 6 players ot singers. The best known is the string sextet which typically contains two violins, two violas and two cellos. Dvorak, Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin are a few of the composers who wrote for this kind of ensemble, but above all it was Brahms's with his Sextet for Strings Opus 18 No.1 in B flat Major and Sextet for Strings Opus 36 No. 2 in G Major which demonstrated the possibilities of this genre. Arnold Schönbergwrote the most famous 20th century sextet - "Transfigured Night" (Verklärte Nacht).

The Wind sextets usually contains two horns, bassoons and clarinets(or oboes). Well known are the works of Mozart (including few outstanding Divertimenti) and Beethoven (with his wind Sextet Opus 71)

A Septet is a group of 7 players ot singers. Mostly known is Beethoven's Septet Opus 20. Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Stravinsky also wrote well known septets.

In terms of form, the sextet and septet will usually be a sonata for six or seven players, in several movements.

The String Sextet

The septet