Octet (music)

Although eight-part scoring was fairly common for serenades and divertimenti in the 18th century, the word "octet" only first appeared at the beginning of the 19th century, as the title of a composition by Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, whose Octet Op.

12 (published posthumously in 1808) features the piano, together with clarinet, 2 horns, 2 violins, and 2 cellos.

Later octets with piano were written by Ferdinand Ries (Op.

128, 1818, with clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, and double bass), Anton Rubinstein (Op.

9, 1856, with flute, clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello, and double bass), and Paul Juon (Chamber Symphony, Op.