Meaning & use
ensemble playing
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Meaning
noununcountablemusic
the skill or activity of performing together as a group, especially in music, with balanced and coordinated parts
Grammar: No plural; often used after adjectives like good, tight, or sensitive: the group's tight ensemble playing.
Patterns
- good ensemble playing
- ensemble playing in something
- the ensemble playing of someone
The quartet's ensemble playing was praised for its balance and precision.
Her solo work is strong, but her ensemble playing needs more listening to others.
The conductor emphasized ensemble playing over individual showmanship.
Common combinations
- good ensemble playing
- Good ensemble playing depends on every member listening closely.
- tight ensemble playing
- The band's tight ensemble playing made the fast passage sound easy.
- ensemble playing skills
- The course develops ensemble playing skills for young musicians.
- the art of ensemble playing
- He wrote a short book about the art of ensemble playing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- group performance
- A general term for any performance by a group; ensemble playing stresses the musical coordination and balance.
- collaborative playing
- Focuses on working together; ensemble playing is more specific to music and drama groups.
Opposites
Word family
- ensemble noun
- A group of performers who play or sing together.
Commonly confused: ensemble playing or ensemble cast?
ensemble playing vs ensemble cast
Used in film and theater for a group of actors with roughly equal roles; ensemble playing is about the performance itself.
Practice
The reviewer praised the orchestra's ___ playing, especially in the slow movement.
Choose one answer.
Ensemble is used as a noun modifier before playing. Ensembles is plural and does not fit before a singular uncountable noun, and ensembling/ensembled are not standard forms here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ensemble playing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.