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, Poésies à Maldoror (eight cellos)
• George Enescu, Octet in C major, Op. 7
• Reinhold Glière, String Octet in D Major, Op. 5
• Cristóbal Halffter, Fandango (eight cellos)
• Gordon Jacob
  • Suite (eight violas)
  • Cello Octet (eight cellos)
• Tomás Marco, Miró (eight cellos)
• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Octet, Op. 20
• Darius Milhaud, Octet for Strings, Op. 291
• Arvo Pärt
  • Fratres (version for eight cellos)
  • L'abbé 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

Musical ensembles by number
Solo: 1	Drum solo Guitar solo One-man band Piano solo
Duet: 2	Piano duet Piano four hands Musical duo
Trio: 3	Clarinet-cello-piano Clarinet-viola-piano Clarinet-violin-piano Flute, viola and harp Jazz trio Oboe-bassoon-piano Organ trio Piano Piano six hands Power trio (in rock music and heavy metal music) String
Quartet: 4	Jazz quartet Piano Rock or pop quartet Saxophone String Wind Woodwind
Quintet: 5	Brass Piano Pierrot ensemble Rock or pop quintet String Wind
Sextet: 6	Piano String
Other	Septet: 7 Octet: 8 String Nonet: 9 Decet: 10 Duodecet: 12
Large groups	Big band Choir Concert band Orchestra Singakademie

Violin family
Instruments	Violin Viola Cello Double bass Violin range Kit violin Five string violin Violino piccolo Alto range Five string viola Vertical viola Viola pomposa Tenor range Tenor violin/Tenor viola Violotta Viola Profonda Cello range Five string cello Baritone violin Cello da spalla Cellone Violoncello piccolo Bass range Bass violin Violone Octobass
Parts	Bass bar Bow Bridge Chinrest Endpin F-hole Fingerboard Frog Scroll Shoulder rest Sound post Tailpiece Tuning peg
Techniques	Bowing Arco Col legno Down bow Up bow Martelé Portato Spiccato Tremolo Arpeggio Artificial harmonic Double stop Fingering Bariolage Pizzicato Scordatura Vibrato
Ensembles and genres	String quartet String trio String quintet String sextet String octet Violin concerto Viola concerto Cello concerto Double bass concerto Violin sonata Viola sonata Cello sonata Carnatic music
Other	Violin physics Violin history Rosin Stradivarius String section Violin lutherie Violin musical styles Violin octet