#ClassicsaDay #OctoberOctet Week 2
By Ralph Graves
The Classics a Day team decided October was the month to feature octets. Granted, it is the tenth month of the year, but the word “detects” isn’t as alliterative. The mix of instruments that make up an octet varies. Some composers wrote for double string quartet, some for wind instruments, and some for a blend of instruments.
10/11/21 Igor Stravinsky: Octet
This octet has a very unusual combination of instruments. It comprises of a flute, two clarinets (in B-flat and A), two bassoons, two trumpets (in C and A), and two trombones (tenor and bass).
10/12/21 Carl Reinecke: Octet in B-flat major Op. 216
Reinecke wrote his wind octet in 1892. It’s for flute, oboe, two clarinets, two horns, and two bassoons.
10/13/21 Felix Weingartner: Octet in G major Op. 73
Felix Weingartner’s fame stems primarily from his conducting (and ground-breaking recordings). but he also considered himself equally a composer. His octet was written in 1925.
10/14/21 Joachim Raff: String Octet in C major Op. 176
Raff completed his string octet in 1872. It’s scored for four violins, two violas, and two cellos; in essence, a double string quartet.
10/15/21 Ignaz Joseph Pleyel: Octet in E-flat major
Pleyel was a student of Haydn. This is one of two wind octets he wrote. It’s scored for two oboes, two clarinets, two horns, and two bassons (with optional doubling with a contrabass).
