#ClassicsaDay #Strings Week 2
By Ralph Graves
There’s a middle ground between large orchestras and chamber groups. That space is occupied by string orchestras. They have the full sound of an orchestra, but the uniform blend of a string quartet. The #ClassicsaDay challenge for this month is to post examples of string orchestra works. No brass, winds, or percussion allowed!
This type of ensemble originated in the early 1800s. For my posts, I’ve tried to alternate between Romantic and Modern Era composers. Here are my posts for the second week of #Strings.
11/11/24 Benjamin Britten: Simple Symphony for string orchestra, Op. 4
Britten wrote this work when he was 20, and it’s very much a youthful piece. He used themes from some of his childhood compositions, two per movement.
11/12/24 Christopher Wilson: Suite for String Orchestra
British composer Wilson wrote his suite in 1899. It was first performed in Cologne, and published by Schott. At the time British music was rarely heard on the continent.
11/13/24 Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte for string orchestra
Shaw was inspired to write this work after hearing Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 77 No. 2. The work was originally for string quartet, but she later adapted it for string orchestra.
11/14/24 Felix Mendelssohn: String Symphony No. 13 (“Sinfoniesatz”), in C minor
Mendelssohn wrote 12 string symphonies. He only completed the first movement of his 13th before abandoning the genre. He was 14 at the time.
11/15/24 John Rutter: Suite for Strings
Rutter is best known for his choral works, though he does write in other genres. This suite for strings is based on four English folk songs.
