Timeline of events in chamber music, history, art & literature. Chamber music is the most intimate, and arguably the most joyful and sociable, form of music-making in the world. It may also be the oldest, and its scope is all-embracing, ranging from infectious light entertainment to profound explorations of the human spirit, from boisterous humour to the outer reaches of intellectual adventure, and in time from pre-history to the present. More than any other, it is the music of community - organised, spontaneous, bonding and liberating. This survey, containing surprises for newcomer and connoisseur alike, explores the nature and development of the genre in its social and historical context, through a rich and entertaining tapestry of text and sound.