Definition

Noun: 1. A musical composition written for six performers: A piece of music, often classical or chamber music, specifically scored for six distinct instrumental or vocal parts. 2. Six people considered as a unit: Any group of six individuals acting or regarded together as a single entity. 3. A set of six similar things considered as a unit: A collection of six items that are alike or form a coherent group. 4. Six performers or singers who perform together: An ensemble, typically musical, consisting of exactly six members.

Usage Examples

• As a musical composition:
  • The concert will feature a beautiful sextette for strings and piano.
  • He composed a sextette specifically for the festival.
• As a group of six people:
  • The investigative sextette worked tirelessly to solve the case.
  • A sextette of diplomats was appointed to negotiate the treaty.
• As a set of six things:
  • She purchased a sextette of fine porcelain teacups.
  • The collection includes a sextette of rare coins from the 18th century.
• As a performing ensemble:
  • The jazz sextette played to a packed house.
  • The vocal sextette harmonized perfectly during the performance.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in formal or artistic contexts, particularly in music criticism, program notes, and literature.
• It can imply a sense of cohesion, balance, or specific artistic intention due to the precise number of parts or members.

Variants and Related Words

• Sextet (noun): The more common and preferred spelling for all meanings of "sextette". The two words are fully interchangeable.
  • The brass sextet will perform next.
• Sextuple (adjective): Consisting of six parts; sixfold.
  • They achieved a sextuple victory, winning all six matches.

Synonyms

• Group of six: hexad, half-dozen.
• Musical composition for six: piece for six, six-part composition.
• Performing group of six: ensemble of six, six-piece band.

Related Phrases

• In sextette: As a group of six; performed by six musicians.
  • The musicians performed the piece in sextette.

Noun

1. a musical composition written for six performers
2. six people considered as a unit
3. a set of six similar things considered as a unit
4. six performers or singers who perform together