A string orchestra is an orchestra consisting solely of a string section made up of the bowed strings used in Western Classical music. The instruments of such an orchestra are most often the following: the violin, which is divided into first and second violin players (each usually playing different parts), the viola, the cello, and usually, but not always, the double bass.
String orchestras can be of chamber orchestra size ranging from between 12 (4 first violins, 3 second violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos and 1 bass = 12) and 21 musicians (6 first violins, 5 second violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos and 2 double basses= 21) sometimes performing without a conductor. It could also consist of the entire string section of a large symphony orchestra which could have 60 musicians (16 first violins, 14 second violins, 12 violas, 10 cellos and 8 double basses = 60; Gurre-Lieder calls for 84: 20.20.16.16.12).[1]
The repertoire includes several works by Mozart (including Eine kleine Nachtmusik), William Boyce (his eight symphonies are for strings only), and Haydn which dispense with the baroque basso continuo. Some of these works are problematic when it comes to deciding whether they are for orchestra or string quartet. Particularly in Haydn's early works it is argued that the inversions of harmony from the occasional crossings of the bass and viola line imply a double bass; the question is not settled, however.
Important 20th century works have been written for string orchestra by Bartók (Divertimento for String Orchestra), Stravinsky (Apollo), Witold Lutosławski (Musique funèbre), Benjamin Britten (Simple Symphony and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge), Charles Wuorinen (Grand Bamboula), and Malcolm Williamson (Symphony No. 7). Sir Michael Tippett wrote a Concerto for Double String Orchestra and Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote a Partita for Double String Orchestra. Composers who have written a Serenade for string orchestra include Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Suk and Elgar. Mendelssohn, in his youth, also wrote thirteen symphonies for string orchestra.
Sometimes works originally written for string quartet, quintet, sextet etc. are arranged for string orchestra. Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Alban Berg's 3 Pieces from his Lyric Suite, Arnold Schoenberg's string sextet Verklärte Nacht and String Quartet No. 2, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's sextet Souvenir de Florence, John Corigliano's Second String Quartet and Jean Sibelius's Andante festivo are examples. An optional timpani part is also added in the Sibelius piece. The work Shaker Loops written in 1978 for septet then arranged in 1983 for string orchestra by the American composer John Adams has become a popular addition to the repertoire in recent times. Graham Waterhouse composed several works for string orchestra (Sinfonietta), also in combination with contrasting sounds as Great Highland bagpipe (Chieftain's Salute).
"Old Havana," "A la antigua," "Terra Ignota" (Unknown Land), "Clave," for strings and percussion, "El Retrato de la Paloma" (The Portrait of the Dove)-Latin GRAMMY nominated composition (2015), Symphony No. 2 for strings "Los Dioses del Olimpo" (The Olympian Gods), "Al Partir" (On Leaving) dedicated to Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, "Negro Bembón, dedicated to Nicolás Guillén.
Symphony for Open Strings
Celtic Symphony for string orchestra and six harps
Divertimento for String Orchestra
Icarian Rhapsody (1999)
Sinfonietta (2000)
Adagio Symphonique (2002)
Notturno (1995)
Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion after Plato's "Symposium"
The Hythe (2012)
Adagietto, L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 (1872)
Concerto Grosso No. 2
Lament (1915)
Twenty-Three (for violins, violas, and cellos) Additionally, many of Cage's indeterminate scores could be arranged for string orchestra.
Symphony No. 5
The Miraculous Violin
Gregorian Chant for String Orchestra (1936)
Residuum
Rounds for String Orchestra (1944)
Concerto Grosso (2002–2003)
Serenade for String Orchestra in E major, Op.22
Serious Song: A Lament for String Orchestra (1955)
Romance, Op. 11 (1928)
Suite in E major for String Orchestra, Op. 63 (1909)
Concerto per corde, Op. 33 (originally written for string quartet then arranged for string orchestra)
film score for The Hours (large string orchestra plus piano soloist)
Three Pieces in Old Style (1963)
Holberg Suite (originally written for piano then arranged for string orchestra)
Elegy for Strings (1948)
Hymn to the Vanished (2001)
Serenade for Strings
String Symphonies
Symphony No. 31 (1976–77)
The Call of the Mountains (arranged by Jonathan Dore from the String Quartet No. 2)
Palladio (1996)
Five Pieces for String Orchestra, op.16
Serenade for Strings in G minor
Serenade for Strings Op. 2 (1897)
Serenade for Strings
Suite for String Orchestra (1937)
Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1952–53)
Adagietto from Symphony No. 5.
Symphony No. 6 "Degli Archi" (1947)
Sanguis Venenatus (Tainted Blood) Elegy for Strings (2009)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4gy-7IlUqg
Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani
Life Studies
Between Two Coasts
Formants (1967), for 17 solo strings
Symphony No. 5
Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3 (1932)
Portals
Aspects of the Funeral March of Hintriki Peltoniemi (originally written for string quartet then arranged for string orchestra)
Stockholm Diary (2004)
Verklärte Nacht or Transfigured Night (1899) (originally written for string sextet then arranged for string orchestra)
Scherzo for String Orchestra (1900)
Symphony No. 5
Andante festivo for strings and timpani
Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings
Serenade for Strings, op. 6 (1892)
Requiem (1957)
Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48
"Suite for Strings" (1951)
Bachianas Brasileiras No.9
Smith's Alchemy
Zipangu (1980)
Treptow for String Orchestra (2005)
Lyric for Strings (1946)
Sonata for Strings
Concertino for String Orchestra (originally written for string quartet then arranged for string orchestra)
Serenade for Strings
Grand Bamboula
Pithoprakta for 46 strings, 2 trombones, wood block and xylophone.
Threnody to Toki for Piano and String Orchestra (1980)