String octet explained

A string octet is a piece of music written for eight string instruments, or sometimes the group of eight players.^[1] It usually consists of four violins, two violas and two cellos, or four violins, two violas, a cello and a double bass.

Notable string octets

Most frequently performed string octets include:

• Felix Mendelssohn – Octet, Op. 20
• Max Bruch – String Octet in B♭ major (with bass replacing the second cello)

Other string octets include:

• Airat Ichmouratov – Octet for strings in G minor "Letter from an Unknown Woman"
• Luciano Berio – Korót (eight cellos)
• Sylvano Bussotti – Poésies à Maldoror (eight cellos)
• George Enescu – Octet in C major, Op. 7
• Niels Gade – String Octet in F major, Op. 17
• Reinhold Glière – String Octet in D Major, Op. 5
• Cristóbal Halffter – Fandango (eight cellos)
• Gordon Jacob
  • Suite (eight violas)
  • Cello Octet (eight cellos)
• Tomás Marco – Miró (eight cellos)
• Darius Milhaud – Octet for Strings, Op. 291
• Arvo Pärt
  • Fratres (version for eight cellos)
  • L'abbé Agathon (eight cellos)
  • Joachim Raff - String Octet Op. 176
• Osmo Tapio Räihälä – Swarm
• Steve Reich – Cello Counterpoint (eight cellos)
• Kaija Saariaho – Neiges (eight cellos)
• Gunther Schuller – Hommage a Rayechka (eight cellos)
• Peter Sculthorpe – Chorale (eight cellos)
• Dmitri Shostakovich – Two Pieces for String Octet
• Giovanni Sollima – Violoncelles, vibrez! (eight cellos)
• Louis Spohr – Double Quartets Op. 65, 77, 87, 136
• Johan Svendsen – String Octet in A major, Op. 3

See also

• String trio
• String quartet
• String quintet
• String sextet
• Violin octet

Notes and References

1. Riemann, Hugo. Dictionary of Music. Trans. J.A. Shedlock. Augener, 1900. 550.