your favourite works for string orchestra

[gurnemanz]

Strauss R. - Metamorphosen
Mozart Divertimento K136
Tchaikovsky - Serenade
Stravinsky - Apollo (especially having seen it danced a couple of years ago)

There must be more ....

[Petrushka]

For me, the Strauss Metamorphosen, Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht, RVW Tallis Fantasia and Tchaikovsky Serenade are the greatest compositions for strings, the Strauss being a particular favourite.

Anyone else like the arrangement for string orchestra of the Beethoven op 131 String Quartet which was recorded by the VPO and Leonard Bernstein?

[AmpH]

BEETHOVEN String Quartets Op 131 & 135 versions for string orchestra , played by the VPO Strings under Bernstein (DG)

[teamsaint]

so I'll start at number one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TotqQ17ljpU

they aren't universally popular...

[AmpH]

For me, the Strauss Metamorphosen, Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht, RVW Tallis Fantasia and Tchaikovsky Serenade are the greatest compositions for strings, the Strauss being a particular favourite.

Anyone else like the arrangement for string orchestra of the Beethoven op 131 String Quartet which was recorded by the VPO and Leonard Bernstein?

perfect timing Petrushka !

[EdgeleyRob]

Nobody has mentioned Finzi. Mainly an elegaist but some lovely music for strings, particularly a Prelude for… and a Romance for…

Also Warlock's Capriol Suite.

And I've just checked Ireland's Downland Suite on Wikipedia in case it had some sneak woodwind and discovered it was written for brass band which I never knew. I have only ever heard the string orch version (by Geoffrey Bush apparently).

Speaking of Warlock there is the beautiful Serenade for the 60th Birthday of Frederick Delius, which I should have included in my original list.

[Petrushka]

perfect timing Petrushka !

[jayne lee wilson]

Listening to much Holmboe just now, so I must mention his epic "Chairos" for String Orchestra, some 56' long, a work of great surface beauty and motivic depth, which can also be played as separate Sinfonias 1-4.

Skalkottas' compelling Ten Sketches for Strings were almost popular once (!), and he added a further Little Suite to them.

Birtwistle writes very strikingly for the medium in "Still Movement"; and the recently released "The Tree of Strings", even if we only have a quartet version so far.

Other favourites are the Tippett Fantasia and Double Concerto of course, and Bartok's Divertimento (which just has to be Barshai and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, open reel transfer available at HDTT)

[Roslynmuse]

Well, if the Bartok Music for strings etc is allowed, I'm going to claim Dutilleux Mystere de l'instant (which has percussion and cimbalom). It it's not, it's a favourite piece for a different thread!

Haven't yet seen Holst St Paul's Suite mentioned which always brings back happy memories; love the Tchaikovsky Serenade and Souvenir de Florence, and Schoenberg Verlaerte Nacht. Also the string orchestra version of the Berg Lyric Suite. Britten Bridge Variations, Tippett Concerto and Corelli Fantasia, Bridge Suite for Strings, Elgar Serenade and Intro + Allegro. Roussel Sinfonietta - small but perfectly formed! And as far as the Barber Adagio goes - Thomas Schippers' recording is the one to hear.

[ahinton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6t8_uhKRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwN2IfCLufQ

(I much prefer Verklärte Nacht in its original string sextet version ).

Hear, hear! The string orchestra version(s?) is/are most brilliantly done, as one might expect from a string player such as Schönberg was, but the sense of emotional intimacy and intensity that imbues the work's every bar is inevitably less amenable to treatment by a large string group than by six soloists.

[jayne lee wilson]

Roslynmuse - the Bartok Divertimento is a distinct piece for Strings alone...
Yes, do like that Dutilleux though!

Schoenberg also made a version of the 2nd String Quartet for String Orchestra - still with soprano of course...

[ahinton]

Listening to much Holmboe just now, so I must mention his epic "Chairos" for String Orchestra, some 56' long, a work of great surface beauty and motivic depth, which can also be played as separate Sinfonias 1-4.

Skalkottas' compelling Ten Sketches for Strings were almost popular once (!), and he added a further Little Suite to them.

Birtwistle writes very strikingly for the medium in "Still Movement"; and the recently released "The Tree of Strings", even if we only have a quartet version so far.

Other favourites are the Tippett Fantasia and Double Concerto of course, and Bartok's Divertimento (which just has to be Barshai and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, open reel transfer available at HDTT)

I might have known that you'd come up with interesting candidates to go along with the usual ones of VW, Tippett and Bridge, Schönberg, Tchaikovsky, Bartók and Strauss - but I didn't suspect that even you would come up with that Holmboe piece! Why his music isn't far better known than it is, even in his native land, I have less than no idea. And, since we're in Scandinavia with Holmboe, may I also make a plea for Pettersson's three concertos for string orchestra? - none of them as well known as most of his symphonies but splendid piece nevertheless, again from an inveterate string player...

[Roslynmuse]

[QUOTE=jayne lee wilson;215460]Roslynmuse - the Bartok Divertimento is a distinct piece for Strings alone...
QUOTE]

I was referring to the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta someone referred to earlier. Sorry not to be clear. I've always thought it odd that the title isn't made even more unwieldy by referring to the important and prominent piano part as well - surely no more or less a percussion instrument than a celesta?

[ahinton]

Roslynmuse - the Bartok Divertimento is a distinct piece for Strings alone...
Yes, do like that Dutilleux though!

Schoenberg also made a version of the 2nd String Quartet for String Orchestra - still with soprano of course...

Yes, and, once again, I almost wish that he hadn't bothered - and for largely similar reasons to those that inform my profound reservations about Verklärte Nacht in massive sweeping string orchestral garb, despite the immense skill with which the arrangements were made!...

The Dutilleux is the final and least obvious answer to the silly question about three works inspired by coffee - the Bach Coffee Cantata, De Sylva / Brown's You're the Cream in my ditto and, as almost all French know better than most, why anyone would even contemplate imbibing "instant coffee" is a mystère more unfathomable (at least to them) than English cheese. Seriously, though, that work is indeed marvellous - but then few pieces by Dutilleux are not...

[Boilk]

Adrian Cruft: Divertimento for Strings
Hugo Distler: Harpsichord Concerto Op.14 ... 3rd movt (of four) below