The Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber was initially composed as a movement within his first string quartet. It was later arranged for a string orchestra at the specific request of renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini.
Origins of the Piece
Samuel Barber originally wrote the "Adagio for Strings" in 1936 as the second movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11. This means that, in its original form, the piece was intended for a classical string quartet, an ensemble typically consisting of two violins, a viola, and a cello.
The Orchestral Arrangement
The version of the Adagio for Strings widely performed and recognized today is an arrangement for a seven-part string orchestra. This orchestral version came into being due to the direct request of the esteemed Italian conductor, Arturo Toscanini.
Toscanini was deeply impressed by the movement and asked Barber to arrange it for his orchestra. Barber completed this orchestral arrangement in 1938. Toscanini then premiered this iconic version with the NBC Symphony Orchestra in the same year, solidifying its place as a standalone and much-revered work in the orchestral repertoire.
Therefore, while the initial composition was for a string quartet, its later arrangement and popularization were specifically at the behest of and for conductor Arturo Toscanini and his orchestra.
