Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
by Samuel Barber
Arranged from the slow movement of Barber's String Quartet, this work has become perhaps the most famous American orchestral piece. Its long, arching melody builds through several waves of increasing intensity to a devastating climax, followed by silence and a hushed coda. Used at state funerals and moments of national mourning, it has also been arranged for chorus (Agnus Dei), organ, and other combinations.
Editions
G. Schirmer
Original publication, 1939
The original Schirmer string orchestra version. The definitive edition.
G. Schirmer
Agnus Dei choral version, 1967
Barber's own arrangement for mixed chorus on the text of the Agnus Dei.
G. Schirmer
String Quartet Op. 11, 1943
The original string quartet from which the Adagio is drawn. Essential for understanding the work's origins.