Adagio for Strings is a work by Samuel Barber, arguably his best known, arranged for string orchestra from the second movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11.

Barber finished the arrangement in 1936, the same year that he wrote the quartet. It was performed for the first time on November 5, 1938, by Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra in a radio broadcast from NBC Studio 8H.

Artists who have covered it include William Orbit, Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Tiësto, Mark Sixma, Bastille, and Lucas & Steve.

The Adagio for Strings has been performed on many public occasions, especially during times of mourning. Some of these include;

-Broadcast over radio at the announcement of Franklin D. Roosevelt's death.
-Performed by the National Symphony Orchestra in a national radio broadcast following the funeral of assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
-Played at the funeral of Albert Einstein.
-Played at the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco.
-Plays during the climactic scene of the 1980 film The Elephant Man.
-Plays during the climactic scene of the 1986 film Platoon.

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