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In music, an octet is a musical ensemble consisting of eight instruments or voices, or a musical composition written for such an ensemble.

Octets in classical music

Octets in classical music are one of the largest groupings of chamber music. They tend to be scored in one of the following arrangements:

• String Octet - This arrangement is made up entirely of strings. Felix Mendelssohn's Octet Op. 20 is an example, as is the string octet by Dmitri Shostakovich.
  • Double quartet - Double quartets are made up of two string quartets, often arranged antiphonally. Louis Spohr composed such octets, as did George Enescu.
• Wind Octet - Usually scored for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, and 2 bassoons; Mozart and Beethoven composed in this genre, also known as Harmonie. Igor Stravinsky's wind octet is in an unusual grouping of flute, clarinet, two bassoons, two trumpets, and two trombones.
• Wind and String Octet - a combination of forces, popularized by Franz Schubert (whose Octet is for clarinet, bassoon, horn, violins, viola, cello, and double bass). Paul Hindemith wrote a less well known piece for clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, two violas, cello and double bass.

Octets in jazz

Jazz ensembles of eight players will frequently be termed an octet. These ensembles may be for any combination of instruments, however the most common line-up is Trumpet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trombone, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drums, with Guitar occasionally being swapped for another horn, for example Baritone Sax. The Jamil Sheriff Octet[1] is an example of a classic octet. Ornette Coleman's ensemble for the Free Jazz album (referred to as a double quartet) is an example of two quartets playing together at the same time.

Saxophonist David Murray leads a famous experimental jazz octet, the David Murray Octet.

The collaborations of trombonists J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding occasionally featured a trombone octet. Most notably on their 1956 record Jay and Kai + 6.

The 2009 Jerry Wortman Octet was a result of the dismissal of the horn sector- perviously billed as "The Jerry Wortman Nonet", the Octet was surrounded by dissention on all eight sides.

Octets in popular music

• British pop group The Dooleys were an eight-member group popular in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

The Beatles' song "Eleanor Rigby" is an example of a double quartet, where one string quartet has been overdubbed by another.

Vocal octet

A vocal octet is a choir, or performance by a choir, of eight separate parts, for example, an SSAATTBB (1st & 2nd Soprano, 1st & 2nd Alto, 1st & 2nd Tenor, Baritone, and Bass) choir.

See also

• Octet (Schubert)
• Octet (Mendelssohn)
• Silesian Guitar Octet
• Vocal octet OCTAVA
• Los Angeles Electric 8