String trios, quintets, sextets and an octet

Music for strings beyond the quartet: trios for three players, and quintets, sextets and an octet for when a quartet finds an extra viola or cello (or four more friends).

Approachable

1 piece

Readable by most amateur players; good for a first session together.

Boccherini · String Quintet in E, Op. 11 No. 5 (with the Minuet)

For 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos

Intermediate

1 piece

Needs a confident amateur on every part, and some practice beforehand.

Schubert · String Trio in B-flat, D. 471

For violin, viola and cello

Advanced

5 pieces

Standard repertoire with real technical demands. Prepare your part.

Beethoven · String Trio in G, Op. 9 No. 1

For violin, viola and cello

Brahms · String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 18

For 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos

Dvořák · String Sextet in A, Op. 48

For 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos

Mozart · String Quintet in C, K. 515

For 2 violins, 2 violas and cello

Mozart · String Quintet in G minor, K. 516

For 2 violins, 2 violas and cello

Very demanding

5 pieces

Conservatory or professional level for at least one part.

Dohnányi · Serenade in C, Op. 10

For violin, viola and cello

Mendelssohn · Octet in E-flat, Op. 20 Part by part, tips →

For 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos

Mozart · Divertimento in E-flat, K. 563

For violin, viola and cello

Schubert · String Quintet in C, D. 956 Part by part, tips →

For 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos

Tchaikovsky · Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70

For 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos

How we rate difficulty

Each piece is rated by its hardest part, so a trio with an easy cello part and a very hard piano part counts as very demanding. Pieces with a link have their own page, with a level for each part and tips for reading it together. It’s our own rough guide; see the full list to filter by instrument and level together.

Find people to play them with

Add the pieces you’d like to play to your music profile, and say whether it’s just for fun or for a performance. We’ll look for players who want the same pieces at the same level. See also our notes on meeting safely.