piano quartet

noun

1. a musical composition scored for piano and three other instruments, typically violin, viola, and cello.
2. an instrumental group consisting of a pianist and three other musicians, typically a violinist, violist, and cellist.
3. a group of four pianists playing music written or arranged for four pianos.

Word History and Origins

Origin of piano quartet¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The joyous give-and-take Dvořák’s chamber music tends to inspire among players makes his Second Piano Quartet an ideal choice as a closer.

From Seattle Times

Not even for his for highly publicized Cello Concerto written for Yo-Yo Ma in 1994, nor the violin, cello, clarinet and piano quartet “Air and Simple Gifts” he wrote for Barack Obama’s 2009 presidential inauguration.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to pieces by Andrew McIntosh and Zosha Di Castri, this percussion and piano quartet will give the premiere of this work by Wolfgang Heiniger.

From New York Times

Yet he had forced himself to participate in a performance of Brahms’s C minor Piano Quartet because the cellist, Robert Martin, a close colleague, was playing his final concert as director of the conservatory.

From New York Times

Huw Watkins’ Piano Quartet mixed easy-going lyricism with unthreatening agitation.

From Los Angeles Times