String octet

First page of the autograph manuscript score of Mendelssohn's Octet, Op. 20

One possible ensemble layout

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

String octets by notable composers

• Luciano Berio, Korót (eight cellos)
• Max Bruch (with bass replacing the second cello)
• Sylvano Bussotti, Poèsies à Maldoror (eight cellos)
• George Enescu, Octet in C major, Op. 7
• Reinhold Gliere, String Octet in D Major, Op. 5
• Cristóbal Halffter, Fandango (eight cellos)
• Gordon Jacob
  • Suite (eight violas)
  • Cello Octet (eight cellos)
• Henri Lazarof
• Tomás Marco, Miró (eight cellos)
• Felix Mendelssohn, Octet, Op. 20
• Darius Milhaud, Octet for Strings, Op. 291
• Arvo Pärt
  • Fratres (version for eight cellos)
  • L'abbe Agathon (eight cellos)
• 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)
• Johan Svendsen, String Octet in A major, Op. 3

See also

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