Hereford String Orchestra Spring Concert 2010

A string orchestra is an

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

consisting solely of a

string section The string section of an orchestra is composed of bowed instruments belonging to the violin family. It normally consists of first and second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. It is the most numerous group in the standard orchestra. In ...

made up of the bowed strings used in Western Classical music. The instruments of such an orchestra are most often the following: the

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

, which is divided into first and second violin players (each usually playing different parts), the

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

, the

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

, and usually, but not always, the

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

. 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 ' (''Songs of Gurre Castle, Gurre'') is a tripartite oratorio followed by a Melodrama, melodramatic epilogue for five vocal soloists, narrator, three choruses, and grand orchestra. The work, which is based on an early song cycle for soprano, te ...

'' calls for 84: 20.20.16.16.12).

Repertoire

The repertoire includes several works by

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

(including '' Eine kleine Nachtmusik''), William Boyce (his eight symphonies are for strings only), and Haydn which dispense with the

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

basso continuo Basso continuo parts, almost universal in the Baroque era (1600–1750), provided the harmonic structure of the music by supplying a bassline and a chord progression. The phrase is often shortened to continuo, and the instrumentalists playing th ...

. Some of these works are problematic when it comes to deciding whether they are for orchestra or

string quartet The term string quartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two Violin, violini ...

. 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 Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

''), 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 Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

. 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 Samuel Osmond Barber II (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American composer, pianist, conductor (music), conductor, baritone, and music educator, and one of the most celebrated composers of the mid-20th century. Principally influenced ...

's '' Adagio for Strings'',

Alban Berg Alban Maria Johannes Berg ( ; ; 9 February 1885 – 24 December 1935) was an Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School. His compositional style combined Romantic lyricism with the twelve-tone technique. Although he left a relatively sma ...

's 3 Pieces from his ''Lyric Suite'',

Arnold Schoenberg Arnold Schoenberg or Schönberg (13 September 187413 July 1951) was an Austrian and American composer, music theorist, teacher and writer. He was among the first Modernism (music), modernists who transformed the practice of harmony in 20th-centu ...

's string sextet '' Verklärte Nacht'' and String Quartet No. 2,

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popula ...

's sextet '' Souvenir de Florence'', John Corigliano's Second String Quartet and

Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius (; ; born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius; 8 December 186520 September 1957) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic music, Romantic and 20th-century classical music, early modern periods. He is widely regarded as his countr ...

'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 John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before Presidency of John Adams, his presidency, he was a leader of ...

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'').

Works for string orchestra

* Yalil Guerra: "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. * Louis Andriessen: ''Symphony for Open Strings'' * Lera Auerbach: **String Symphony "Memoria de la Luz" (2013) **Serenade for a Melancholic Sea for violin, violoncello, piano and string orchestra (2002) ** Dialogues of Stabat Mater (after G.B. Pergolesi) for violin, viola, vibraphone and string orchestra (2005) * Granville Bantock: ''Celtic Symphony'' for string orchestra and six harps *

: '' Adagio for Strings'' *

Béla Bartók Béla Viktor János Bartók (; ; 25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century; he and Franz Liszt are regarded as Hunga ...

: Divertimento for String Orchestra **Romanian Dances for String Orchestra * Mason Bates: '' Icarian Rhapsody'' (1999) * Jeremy Beck: ''Sinfonietta'' (2000) * Alan Belkin: ''Adagio Symphonique'' (2002) *

Luciano Berio Luciano Berio (24 October 1925 – 27 May 2003) was an Italian composer noted for his experimental music, experimental work (in particular his 1968 composition ''Sinfonia (Berio), Sinfonia'' and his series of virtuosic solo pieces titled ''Seque ...

: ''Notturno'' (1995) *

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...

: '' Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion after Plato's "Symposium"'' * Judith Bingham: ''The Hythe'' (2012) *

Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', w ...

: ''Adagietto,'' L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 (1872) * Ernest Bloch: ''Concerto Grosso'' No. 2 * Nimrod Borenstein **In the night, Op. 48 (2007) **In the morning, Op. 51 (2008) **Symphony for strings, Op. 68 (2014) **Suspended, Op. 69 (2014) **Yodit, Op. 82 (2018) *

Pierre Boulez Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 19255 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war contemporary classical music. Born in Montb ...

: '' Livre pour cordes'' * Frank Bridge: ''Lament'' (1915) * Benjamin Britten: '' Simple Symphony'' * Stephen Brown: **''The Carol Suite'' (1993) **''Sunrise Serenade'' (2001) **''On the Idle Hill of Summer'' (2002) *

John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and Extended technique, non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one ...

: ''Twenty-Three'' (for violins, violas, and cellos) Additionally, many of Cage's indeterminate scores could be arranged for string orchestra. * Carlos Chávez: Symphony No. 5 * Nigel Clarke: ''The Miraculous Violin'' * Anna Clyne: **'' Within Her Arms'' (2009) **'' Prince of Clouds'' (2012) * Paul Creston: ''Gregorian Chant for String Orchestra'' (1936) * Tansy Davies: ''Residuum'' * David Diamond: ''Rounds for String Orchestra'' (1944) * Avner Dorman: Concerto Grosso (2002–2003) * Antonín Dvořák: Serenade for String Orchestra in E major, Op.22 *

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

: **'' Introduction and Allegro for Strings'' (1905) ** Serenade for Strings * Irving Fine: ''Serious Song: A Lament for String Orchestra'' (1955) * Gerald Finzi: Romance, Op. 11 (1928) * Arthur Foote: Suite in E major for String Orchestra, Op. 63 (1909) * Alberto Ginastera: ''Concerto per corde'', Op. 33 (originally written for string quartet then arranged for string orchestra) *

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

: film score for ''The Hours'' (large string orchestra plus piano soloist) * Henryk Górecki: Three Pieces in Old Style (1963) *

Edvard Grieg Edvard Hagerup Grieg ( , ; 15 June 18434 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the leading Romantic music, Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwid ...

: '' Holberg Suite'' (originally written for piano then arranged for string orchestra) * Stefans Grové: Elegy for Strings (1948) *

Mark Gustavson Mark Gustavson (born September 19, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. Biography Gustavson lives on eastern Long Island and teaches at various universities in the New York City area, including Ad ...

: ''Hymn to the Vanished'' (2001) * Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Symphony No. 4 * Victor Herbert: Serenade for Strings * Alfred Hill: String Symphonies * Gustav Holst: **'' St Paul's Suite'' (1912) **'' Brook Green Suite'' (1933) **'' A Moorside Suite'' (1928) *

Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (; 10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss-French composer who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. Honegger was a member of Les Six. For Halbreich, '' Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher'' is "more even ...

: Symphony No. 2 * Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 31 (1976–77) *

Charles Ives Charles Edward Ives (; October 20, 1874May 19, 1954) was an American modernist composer, actuary and businessman. Ives was among the earliest renowned American composers to achieve recognition on a global scale. His music was largely ignored d ...

: ''The Call of the Mountains'' (arranged by Jonathan Dore from the String Quartet No. 2) * Karl Jenkins: ''Palladio'' (1996) * Paul Juon: Five Pieces for String Orchestra, op.16 * Vasily Kalinnikov: Serenade for Strings in G minor * Mieczysław Karłowicz: Serenade for Strings Op. 2 (1897) * Nigel Keay: Serenade for Strings * Uuno Klami: Suite for String Orchestra (1937) * Sophie Lacaze: ** ''Y aparece el sol'' (2017) for flute, didgeridoo and string orchestra ** ''Immobilité sérieuse I'' (2013) for piano and string orchestra * Kenneth Leighton: ** Symphony for Strings, Op. 3 (1948-49) ** Concerto for String Orchestra, Op. 39 (1960-61) * Elizabeth Maconchy: Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1952–53) *

Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic music, Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and ...

: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5. * Gian Francesco Malipiero: Symphony No. 6 "Degli Archi" (1947) * Andrew March: Sanguis Venenatus (Tainted Blood) Elegy for Strings (200

*

Bohuslav Martinů Bohuslav Jan Martinů (; December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He wrote 6 symphony, symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber music, chamber, vocal and ins ...

: '' Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani'' * Nicholas Maw: ''Life Studies'' *

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions inc ...

: ** 13 String Symphonies ** Concerto for Violin and Strings *

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

: ** Three Concertos for Piano and Strings in D major, G major and E major, K. 107 (1771 or 1765) ** Divertimento No. 1 for Strings in D major, K. 136/125a (1772) ** Divertimento No. 2 for Strings in B major, K. 137/125b (1772) ** Divertimento No. 3 for Strings in F major, K. 138/125c (1772) ** '' Eine kleine Nachtmusik'' (1787) *Lior Navok: ''Between Two Coasts'' *Ștefan Niculescu: ''Formants'' (1967), for 17 solo strings *Robert Paterson (composer), Robert Paterson: **''Suite for String Orchestra'' (2011) **''I See You'' (for String Orchestra and Recording) (2015) *Vincent Persichetti: Symphony No. 5 *Allan Pettersson: **Concerto No. 1 (1949–50) **Concerto No. 2 (1956) **Concerto No. 3 (1956–57) *Ottorino Respighi: ''Ancient Airs and Dances#Suite No. 3 (1932), Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3'' (1932) *Carl Ruggles: ''Portals'' *Aulis Sallinen: ''Aspects of the Funeral March of Hintriki Peltoniemi'' (originally written for string quartet then arranged for string orchestra) *Esa-Pekka Salonen: ''Stockholm Diary'' (2004) *

: '' Verklärte Nacht'' or ''Transfigured Night'' (1899) (originally written for string sextet then arranged for string orchestra) *Franz Schreker: Scherzo for String Orchestra (1900) **Intermezzo for String Orchestra (Op. 8, 1900) *William Schuman: Symphony No. 5 *

: '' Andante festivo'' for strings and timpani *Richard St. Clair Symphony for String Orchestra *Richard Strauss: ''Metamorphosen'' for 23 solo strings *Igor Stravinsky: **Concerto in D (Stravinsky), Concerto in D (1946) **''Apollon Musagète'' (1927–1928), ballet for string orchestra *Josef Suk (composer), Josef Suk: Serenade for Strings (Suk), Serenade for Strings (Op. 6, 1892) *William Susman: **''Zydeco Madness'' **''Angels of Light'' *Tōru Takemitsu: ''Requiem'' (1957) **"A Way a Lone II" (1981) *

: Serenade for Strings (Tchaikovsky), Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48 * Michael Tippett: **Concerto for Double String Orchestra **''Corelli Fantasia'' **''Little Music for Strings'' *Joan Trimble: "Suite for Strings" (1951) *Pēteris Vasks: **''Cantabile'' (1979) **''Musica Dolorosa'' (1984) * Ralph Vaughan Williams: **''Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis'' **''Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus'' **Concerto Grosso (Vaughan Williams), Concerto Grosso *Heitor Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras#Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, ''Bachianas Brasileiras No.9'' *Carl Vine: ''Smith's Alchemy'' *Claude Vivier: ''Zipangu (Vivier), Zipangu'' (1980) *Julian Wagstaff: ''Treptow'' for String Orchestra (2005) *George Walker (composer), George Walker: ''Lyric for Strings'' (1946) *William Walton: Sonata for Strings *Robert Ward (composer), Robert Ward: ''Concertino for String Orchestra'' (originally written for string quartet then arranged for string orchestra) * Graham Waterhouse: **''Celtic Voices and Hale Bopp'' (1995, 1997) **Sinfonietta (2002) * Malcolm Williamson: **''Epitaphs for Edith Sitwell'' (1966/72) **''Ode for Queen Elizabeth'' (1980) **''Lento for Strings'' (1985) *Dag Wirén: ''Serenade for Strings'' *John Woolrich: **''Blue Drowning'' (2005) **''It is Midnight Dr. Schweitzer'' **''To the Silver Bow'', double concerto for viola, double bass and strings (2014) **''Ulysses Awakes'' * Charles Wuorinen: ''Grand Bamboula'' *Iannis Xenakis: ''Pithoprakta'' for 46 strings, 2 trombones, wood block and xylophone. *Takashi Yoshimatsu: ''Threnody to Toki'' for Piano and String Orchestra (1980) *Đuro Živković: **''Serenade'' (2002) **''PSALM XIII'' (2014) *Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: **''Partita'' (Violin Concerto No. 2) for Violin and String Orchestra (2000) **''Commedia dell'arte'' (Violin Concerto No. 3) for Violin and String Orchestra (2012) **''Prologue and Variations'' (1983)

References

{{Authority control Types of musical groups Orchestras String orchestras,