String octet

A string octet is a piece of music written for eight string instruments, or sometimes the group of eight players. It usually consists of 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 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
• Cristóbal Halffter, Fandango (eight cellos)
• Gordon Jacob
  • Suite (eight violas)
  • Cello Octet (eight cellos)
• Henri Lazarof
• Tomás Marco, Miró (eight cellos)
• Felix Mendelssohn's octet op 20
• 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
• Johan Svendsen

See also

• String trio
• String quartet
• String quintet
• String sextet