6 favourite works for string orchestra

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: Tallis Fantasia
Dello Joio: Meditations on Ecclesiastes
Tippet: Concerto for Double String Orchestra
Vaughan Williams: Concerto Grosso
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings
Honegger: Symphony 2 (counts if you use the non-trumpet version) or, if unacceptable, or if it not more than one work by each composer: Miaskovsky: Two Pieces for String Orchestra (from Symphony 19).

[Sergeant Rock]

Elgar Serenade for Strings E minor op.20
Dvorak Serenade for Strings E major op.22
Suk Serenade for Strings E flat op.6
Schuman Symphony for Strings (Symphony No.5)
Warlock Capriol Suite
Barber Adagio for Strings

The Tallis Fantasia is the greatest piece ever written for string orchestra. It should be on everyone's list...which is why I left it out. Too obvious 

Sarge

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings
Elgar: Serenade for Strings
Grieg : Holberg Suite
Holst: St. Paul's Suite
Suk: Serenade for Strings
Warlock: Capriol Suite

For its extraordinary architecture, expression, movement and CHARM, Tchaik's cannot be topped, IMO, which is why his is top o' the heap in my list.  I never tire of it, as I have Barber's Adagio.  Sibelius's Romance for Strings is more than worthy of mention and note and it's killing me to leave out the Dvořák serenade but we serve cruel masters here on GMG! 

[vandermolen]

Thanks for responses. I could have included the Suk or Holst on my own list too - both fine works.

[Sergeant Rock]

For its extraordinary architecture, expression, movement and CHARM, Tchaik's cannot be topped, IMO, which is why his is top o' the heap in my list.  I never tire of it, as I have Barber's Adagio.

I'm just the opposite. Heard the Tchaikovsky one too many times in my youth and have rarely returned to it, whereas Barber's Adagio never fails to move me no matter how often I listen to it.

Sibelius's Romance for Strings is more than worthy of mention

The Romance was considered and almost made the cut; Rakastava too (although that has percussion parts and might not qualify).

Sarge

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

I'm just the opposite. Heard the Tchaikovsky one too many times in my youth and have rarely returned to it, whereas Barber's Adagio never fails to move me no matter how often I listen to it.

The Romance was considered and almost made the cut; Rakastava too (although that has percussion parts and might not qualify).

Sarge

Interesting!  I too heard the Tchaik in my youth, but did not discover what it was until college years (opening bars used to introduce a late night French Canadian radio program, Pensées de la nuit).  Delighted me ever since and it's often in my brain.  I've come to prefer the Barber in its orig. SQ format, for its intimacy and vulnerability, the standard performance seems way over the top to me.  I will seek out your Rakastava. 

[Karl Henning]

In principle, I can see burning out on the Tchaikovsky (though I had not).  I was relatively indifferent to the piece (which, granted, is a bit atypical by me, for this composer) until the strings of the BSO performed it, conductorless, on one of the subscription concerts (it was the week following one of Jimmy's sudden indispositions, and it may be that the band were particularly motivated to keep the show on).  I cannot say I should ever be indifferent to the piece again!

[Mirror Image]

In no particular order:

Tippett: Double Concerto
Sibelius: Rakastava
Nielsen: Little Suite
Bartok: Divertimento
Vaughan Williams: Partita
Hartmann: Symphony No. 4

Honorable mentions - Part: Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge

[Drasko]

Mozart - Adagio & Fugue in c-minor K546
Vaughan-Williams - Tallis Fantasia
Vaughan-Williams - Five variants on Dives and Lazarus
Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings
Strauss - Metamorphosen
Xenakis - Shaar

[springrite]

Diamond: Rounds for String Orchestra
Suk: Serenade for Strings
Vaughan-Williams - Five variants on Dives and Lazarus
Dvorak: Serenade for String Orchestra
Janacek: Danses Lachiennes
Janacek: Idylle

[Mirror Image]

Diamond: Rounds for String Orchestra
Suk: Serenade for Strings
Vaughan-Williams - Five variants on Dives and Lazarus
Dvorak: Serenade for String Orchestra
Janacek: Danses Lachiennes
Janacek: Idylle

Nice choices, Paul. I forgot about RVW's Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus. What a great piece. I also love Diamond's Rounds.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

In principle, I can see burning out on the Tchaikovsky (though I had not).  I was relatively indifferent to the piece (which, granted, is a bit atypical by me, for this composer) until the strings of the BSO performed it, conductorless, on one of the subscription concerts (it was the week following one of Jimmy's sudden indispositions, and it may be that the band were particularly motivated to keep the show on).  I cannot say I should ever be indifferent to the piece again!

I wish I were there to hear it! On the other hand, I surely don't need to love that work more than I already do...

[jochanaan]

In addition to "the usual suspects," here are a few that folks might not have thought of:
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #6
Vivaldi: The Seasons
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (originally written as a string quintet with bass, but usually played by orchestras now)
Penderecki: Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima

[Brian]

Janacek: Danses Lachiennes

Is there a string orchestra version of this??

[springrite]

Is there a string orchestra version of this??

Thanks for pointing that out. I was thinking of the Suites for Strings!

[prémont]

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #6

Is there a string orchestra version of this?? 

[Karl Henning]

Is there a string orchestra version of this?? 

Hah!  You know he meant № 3 

[Luke]

One list would be something like:

Dvorak - Serenade
Stravinsky - Apollo
Tippett - Double Concerto
Tippett - Corelli Fantasia
RVW - Tallis Fantasia
Strauss - Metamorphosen

but I love Xenakis' Shaar, that's a great choice, and also the Panufnik Lullaby, and there are modern-landmark things like Shaker Loops and the Threnody/Hiroshima to consider.

Part's Cantus has that bell part, so I'm not sure it can count....

[Luke]

Hah!  You know he meant № 3 

I'm having a brain-freeze moment, perhaps, but isn't 6 strings-only too? Albeit gambas etc.

[Karl Henning]

I'm having a brain-freeze moment, perhaps, but isn't 6 strings-only too? Albeit gambas etc.

No, no, of course you are right!