Octet in B-flat major

Max Bruch · 1838–1920 · German

For 4 violins, 2 violas, cello, double bass

Also known as String Octet

Level 7 · Diploma — about DipABRSM / ATCL · RCM ARCT, for the violin 1 part

MajorLyricalHeroicLesser-known

Listen

Open on YouTube More recordings

Ensemble: String sextet or larger
Hardest part: Violin 1
Form: Full work
Length: About 22 min
Composed: 1919–20
Era: Late Romantic

Notes

Four violins, two violas, cello and double bass; the first violin leads; also played by string orchestra

About this work

Composed: 1919-20
Dedicated to: Willy Hess (violinist)
First performed: 1937, BBC broadcast

Allegro moderato
Adagio
Allegro molto

Score on IMSLP Suggest a correction

A step before · level 6

String Sextet in D major, Op. 68

Arnold Krug

2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

28 min

MajorLyricalLesser-known

6balanced

String Sextet in D major

Ferdinand Thieriot

2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

26 min

MajorLyricalLesser-known

6balanced

String Sextet in A major, Op. 48, B. 80

Antonín Dvořák

2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

30 min

MajorFolkWell-known

6violin 1

Double Quartet in D major ("Housewarming")

Nikolay Afanasyev

4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

24 min

MajorLivelyLesser-known

6violin 1

A step after · level 8

String Sextet in D major, Op. 10

Erich Wolfgang Korngold

2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

35 min

MajorLyricalWell-known

8violin 1

String Sextet in B-flat major, Op. 92

Vincent d' Indy

2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

21 min

MajorLyricalLesser-known

8balanced

String Sextet in F major, Op. 118

Max Reger

2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

40 min

MajorLyricalLesser-known

8balanced

Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20

Felix Mendelssohn

4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

String sextet or larger4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

33 min

MajorLivelyWell-known

8violin 1