Editing Adagio for Strings (section)

== Arrangements ==
[[G. Schirmer Inc.|G. Schirmer]] has published several alternate arrangements for ''Adagio for Strings''. They include:<ref name=Heyman167/>

*Solo organ (1949){{spaced ndash}}[[William Strickland (conductor)|William Strickland]]
*Clarinet choir (1964){{spaced ndash}}[[Lucien Cailliet]]
*Woodwind band (1967){{spaced ndash}}[[John O'Reilly (composer)|John O'Reilly]]
*''[[Agnus Dei (Barber)|Agnus Dei]]'' (1967){{spaced ndash}}Samuel Barber{{spaced ndash}}Latin text setting of "Agnus Dei" (''[[Lamb of God]]'') for chorus with optional organ or piano accompaniment
*Chorus with strings (2021){{spaced ndash}}Jonathan Manners, also setting the Agnus Dei text. Performed on the 20th anniversary of [[September 11 attacks|September 11 attacks (9/11)]] at [[The Proms|The Last Night of the Proms]] 2021, London UK, in memory of those lost. The new arrangement was performed 20 years after the original ''Adagio for Strings'' was performed at the 2001 Last Night to honour the memory of the victims of 9/11, conducted by [[Leonard Slatkin]].<ref name="FParr">{{cite web|first=Freya|last=Parr|url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-last-night-of-the-proms|title=Everything you need to know about the Last Night of the Proms|website=[[BBC Music Magazine]]|date=September 10, 2021}}</ref>

Strickland, while assistant organist at [[St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (Manhattan)|St Bartholomew's Church]] in New York, had been impressed by Toscanini's recording of the work and had submitted his own arrangement for organ to Schirmer's. After he made contact with Barber at a musical soirée in 1939, he learned that his transcription had received a lukewarm response from the composer. Strickland, subsequently appointed wartime director of music at the Army's [[Fort Myer]] in Virginia, became a champion of Barber's new compositions. He continued to correspond with the composer.

In 1945 Barber wrote to Strickland, expressing his dissatisfaction with previously proposed organ arrangements; he encouraged Strickland to discuss and prepare his own version for publication.

{{quote|Schirmer's have had several organ arrangements submitted of my ''Adagio for Strings'' and many inquiries as to whether it exists for organ. I have always turned them down, as, although I know little about the organ, I am sure your arrangement would be best. Have you got the one you did before, if not, would you be willing to make it anew? If so, will you ever be in N.Y. on leave, so I could discuss it with you and hear it? If it is done at all, I should like it done as well as possible, and this by you. They would pay you a flat fee for the arrangement, although I don't suppose it will be very much. However, that is their affair. Let me know what you think about it.<ref name=Heyman167 />}}

Strickland, having kept the piece, sent his organ arrangement to G. Schirmer. The company published it in 1949.<ref name=Heyman167 />