Please Help with Strings

[JT3_Jon]

I'm looking for some great string resources, be it from film scores, classical scores, etc. (if possible, please give specific pieces/cues with composers names) I'm in need of some inspiration for writing a string orchestra piece, and would appreciate the recommendations. THANKS!

[Marcussen]

Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings...

Best ever written IMHO :)

[evaclear]

Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings...

Best ever written IMHO :)

You've just reminded me of how good that work is! Rediculously good!

[cptexas]

To that I played in my orchestra two years ago in my middle school:

M to the Third Power by Carold Nunez

Petite Overture by Eliot Del Borgo

M cubed has great interesting harmonic progressions, and Petite Overture is just a great peice. I would recomend you look at the score, or at least listen to the peices above. Although scored for a young orchestra, they are still great peices.

Hope this helps,
Chris

[loogoo]

Stravinsky's Apollon Musagete (or simply Apollo) is a ballet in neoclassical style scored only for strings - a brilliant piece.

[composernyc]

There's a symphony by living composer Howard Blake called "The Leeds" and it contains some of the must beautiful string stuff I've ever heard. Hop onto tower.com and pick it up -- whether for research or just for your own pleasure, it is STUNNING.

Kerry

[fozzy]

I've got to the point where I can't listen to the Barber "adagio" anymore. It's so, uh, everywhere.

I like Jennifer Higdon's work. She is hands down one of the best living composers around imo. Check out the stunning string writing in her "Concerto for Orchestra".

Also maybe give a listen to Stravinsky's "Concerto in D for String Orchestra" --good music, if largely and inexplicably neglected.

[Marcussen]

I've got to the point where I can't listen to the Barber "adagio" anymore. It's so, uh, everywhere.

I like Jennifer Higdon's work. She is hands down one of the best living composers around imo. Check out the stunning string writing in her "Concerto for Orchestra".

Also maybe give a listen to Stravinsky's "Concerto in D for String Orchestra" --good music, if largely and inexplicably neglected.
I know exactly what you mean... but in all fairness it still is king of string :)

[Rob Elliott]

Don't laugh but if you want a 'filmscore' example I still remember the first time I heard the string work on James Newton Howard's "Snow fallin upon Cedars" ( I think that was the film's title - Film OK, but the string work was a stand out.)

Rob

[Aaron Babcock]

Stravinsky's Apollon Musagete (or simply Apollo) is a ballet in neoclassical style scored only for strings - a brilliant piece.

I will second this and add Bartok's music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. Also, it is not for string orchestra, but Bartok's string quartets are wonderful.

[PaulR]

I'm looking for some great string resources, be it from film scores, classical scores, etc. (if possible, please give specific pieces/cues with composers names) I'm in need of some inspiration for writing a string orchestra piece, and would appreciate the recommendations. THANKS!

For just a film score using strings only - then any cue in Psycho, with particular emphasis on the driving in the rain scene and the final scene- Mad House. Also Vertigo, where the score is very much part of the films dialogue. (Herrmann)

Another useful one may be the scene from Witness - the cue used for the building of the Dutch Barn. (Jarre)

Dances with Wolves (Barry) or the theme to You Only Live Twice (Barry)

The scene in Shawshank Redemption - wherby Morgan Freeman walks up to the tree to find the metal box. (Newman)

More or less anything with strings by Vaughan Williams, particularly The London Symphony or Antartica.

[gugliel]

Tchaikovsky -- Serenade

Vaughan Williams -- Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis

In either composition, you'll find a compendium of string techniques. In both, the richness of many parts. Barber's Adagio is a nice piece, but far more limited in resource.

[FredProgGH]

I've got to the point where I can't listen to the Barber "adagio" anymore. It's so, uh, everywhere.



The Khachaturian Adagio from Gayne (used in 2001) makes a wonderful substitute!! :)

[Veron]

I think Mahler`s Symphony No.5 - 4.Adagietto is a beautiful piece :)

[cptexas]

OH!
and another one:
Saint Paul's Suite by Gustav Holst.
It's a terrific peice for stringed orcehstra!

-Chris

[Alexcremers]

Another useful one may be the scene from Witness - the cue used for the building of the Dutch Barn. (Jarre)

It's performed with old samples.

[danpowers]

Grieg loved writing for string orchestra. Try the "Holberg Suite", "Two Norwegian Songs", and the middle two movements of "Peer Gynt Suite No. 1."

But my all time favorite: the Adagietto from Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Awesome!

[A_Sapp]

Best string piece I've heard is Richard Strauss's 'Metamorphosen." Incredible incredible piece of work - highly recommend it if you want to hear some serious string work. :)

[jc5]

Best string piece I've heard is Richard Strauss's 'Metamorphosen." Incredible incredible piece of work - highly recommend it if you want to hear some serious string work. :)

This is a truly stunning composition. One of Strauss' last works, he puts a lifetime of experience as composer and conductor into his handling of the only strings orchestra and the result is an overwhelmingly powerful and emotive piece of music. Perhaps my favourite work by him.

Another little piece that shows you how much emotion can be wrung from your string sections without flooding the page with notes is Mascagni's Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana. Especially when performed by a team such as Karajan and the BPO, who really wallow in the sumptuous string sonorities!

[handz]

Shostakovich - chamber symphony

Penderecky - Threnody for victims of hiroshima. metamorphosis

[Rich Pell]

Any of Beethovens Late String Quartets..specially "Der Grosse Fugue" Rich

[JT3_Jon]

Thanks for all the wonderful resources. Some Im already familiar with, but most I am not and I'll soon be experiencing an earful while studying these pieces. Campus library here I come!

Thanks again for your willingness to help a fellow composer out. It is much appreciated. And if you think of anything else, I'm all ears :) (2 bad jokes in one post! Sometimes I even amaze myself. :p)

Jon

[dpasdernick]

Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings...

Best ever written IMHO :)

Without a doubt, Adagio for strings is very, very beautiful.

Along this same line, does anyone know of any great Hollywood "Golden age" music CD's that i can listen to? i heard a fantastic piece at MGM Studios in Disneyworld lasy year and want to try and write something along that line. Remined me of all the glamour of Hollywood in the 40's.

(I was born to late!)

Darren

[Jimi]

Aside from the obvious string orchestra pieces that everyone knows (VW, barber, etc) try the really great St. Paul's suite, and also the Brook Green suite, both by Holst. If the first movement and finale of the St. Paul's suite don't get you jazzed to write for string orchestra, then nothing will!


I'm looking for some great string resources, be it from film scores, classical scores, etc. (if possible, please give specific pieces/cues with composers names) I'm in need of some inspiration for writing a string orchestra piece, and would appreciate the recommendations. THANKS!

[Jimi]

Killer piece! Should be a must on your list.


OH!
and another one:
Saint Paul's Suite by Gustav Holst.
It's a terrific peice for stringed orcehstra!

-Chris