Strauss: Metamorphosen arr. for string sextet

Instruments: two violins, two violas and two cellos.

Catalogue no.: E2020-1

ISMN: 979-0-708164-07-4

This sextet arrangement of Strauss’s Metamorphosen cleverly reproduces the piece from the original version for 23 solo strings. The arranger, Danyal Dhondy, has maintained the original’s rich harmonies and lyrical lines.  This arrangement is not technically hard for any of the six parts (about Grade 8 UK exam level), making it an ideal piece for students and amateurs to play. Professionals, too, will find this an ideal piece to include in a programme of the more commonly performed string sextets.

Strauss’s first thoughts about the scoring may well have been to compose it for a string septet (standard string sextet plus double bass), as a short score for this combination was discovered in Switzerland in 1990. But Strauss expanded the score to twenty-three solo strings, and it is that version which is usually performed by string orchestras.

A free pdf score is available on request with a purchase of the parts.