Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber – Sheet Music

Through his “Adagio for Strings”, Samuel Barber has made huge impact on the world of classical music, and indeed, on the world as a whole. Browse our sheet music and scores, and pick up your favourite edition or arrangement today!

Barber decided to write an arrangement of the second movement of his String Quartet op. 11 for string orchestra in 1938, which was very well received, and towards the end of his life, he gave the work one more outing, and finally completed another arrangement of the piece in 1967 as Agnus Dei (Barber) for choir.

In addition to the original version for string orchestra, we have various arrangements of the “Adagio for Strings”, from flute quartet, to concert band, to accordion orchestra.

The ’Adagio for Strings’ by Samuel Barber is also very popular as a piece for remembrance and solemn occasions. It became so popular, that is has already been heard at the funerals of several US presidents, as well as at memorial services for the victims of September 11, 2001, and for those who died during the ongoing corona pandemic. The piece is also used frequently in films, including anti-war film “Platoon” and “Sophie Scholl – The Last Days”.