String sextet

Ensemble layout

In classical music, a string sextet is a composition written for six string instruments, or a group of six musicians who perform such a composition. Most string sextets have been written for an ensemble consisting of two violins, two violas, and two cellos.

Among the earliest works in this form are the six string sextets Op. 23 of Luigi Boccherini, written in 1776. Other notable string sextets include the Opp. 18 and 36 of Johannes Brahms, the Op. 48 of Antonín Dvořák, the Souvenir de Florence (Op. 70) of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Verklärte Nacht (Op. 4) by Arnold Schoenberg, the op. 10 of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Erwin Schulhoff's String Sextet (1924) and the String Sextet (1989) of Charles Wuorinen.

More unusual combinations for a string sextet:

• three violins, viola and two cellos: Ferdinand David (1810-1873), op. 38, Gaetano Brunetti (1744-1798), op. 1
• three violins, two violas and cello: Jan Brandts Buys (1868-1933), op. 40.

Notable string sextets

References

• The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ed. S. Sadie (London: Macmillan, 1980)
• Naxos Music Library (www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com)

See also

• String sextet repertoire
• Sextet
• String trio
• String quartet
• String quintet
• String octet

Musical ensembles by number
Solo: 1	Drum solo Guitar solo One-man band Piano solo
Duet: 2	Piano duet Piano four hands Musical duo
Trio: 3	Clarinet-cello-piano Clarinet-viola-piano Clarinet-violin-piano Flute, viola and harp Jazz trio Oboe-bassoon-piano Organ trio Piano Piano six hands Power trio (in rock music and heavy metal music) String
Quartet: 4	Jazz quartet Piano Rock or pop quartet Saxophone String Wind Woodwind
Quintet: 5	Brass Piano Pierrot ensemble Rock or pop quintet String Wind
Sextet: 6	Piano String
Other	Septet: 7 Octet: 8 String Nonet: 9 Decet: 10 Duodecet: 12
Large groups	Big band Choir Concert band Orchestra Singakademie

Violin family
Instruments	Violin Viola Cello Double bass Violin range Kit violin Five string violin Violino piccolo Alto range Five string viola Vertical viola Viola pomposa Tenor range Tenor violin/Tenor viola Violotta Viola Profonda Cello range Five string cello Baritone violin Cello da spalla Cellone Violoncello piccolo Bass range Bass violin Violone Octobass
Parts	Bass bar Bow Bridge Chinrest Endpin F-hole Fingerboard Frog Scroll Shoulder rest Sound post Tailpiece Tuning peg
Techniques	Bowing Arco Col legno Down bow Up bow Martelé Portato Spiccato Tremolo Arpeggio Artificial harmonic Double stop Fingering Bariolage Pizzicato Scordatura Vibrato
Ensembles and genres	String quartet String trio String quintet String sextet String octet Violin concerto Viola concerto Cello concerto Double bass concerto Violin sonata Viola sonata Cello sonata Carnatic music
Other	Violin physics Violin history Rosin Stradivarius String section Violin lutherie Violin musical styles Violin octet