Music for string orchestra

[jochanaan]

...Sibelius Andante Festivo...

Uh, shouldn't that be disqualified on account of the timpani?

Mainly I'm attracted to gritty, dissonant stuff.

Well, it doesn't get grittier or more dissonant than Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. 

[Klaze]

Well, most of the great works are already listed of course. Just thought I'd mention Frank Martin - Polyptyque, for Violin and two small string orchestras. It was composed for Menuhin, who said (according to the Dutch wiki entry): When I play the "Polyptyque" by Frank Martin I feel the same responsibility, the same exaltation as when I play Bach's Chaconne. Some episodes are, to me, reminiscent of Bartok, full of tension, but there are are also more lyrical, some call it meditative, moments. I highly recommend it.

[bhodges]

Well, most of the great works are already listed of course. Just thought I'd mention Frank Martin - Polyptyque, for Violin and two small string orchestras. It was composed for Menuhin, who said (according to the Dutch wiki entry): When I play the "Polyptyque" by Frank Martin I feel the same responsibility, the same exaltation as when I play Bach's Chaconne. Some episodes are, to me, reminiscent of Bartok, full of tension, but there are are also more lyrical, some call it meditative, moments. I highly recommend it.

Thanks for mentioning that piece, which I'd forgotten about. It's quite engaging - I have this recording below:

[asin]B00000E52F[/asin]
Another fave:

Hindemith: Five Pieces for Strings, Op. 44

--Bruce