Written in 1887 by notable Leider composer Hugo Wolf (1860-1903), Italian Serenade was originally written for string quartet and named simply Serenade in G Major. In his ongoing attempt to set the works of poet Joseph Eichendorff to music, Wolf based this piece off of Eichendorff�s novella Der Soldat I. By 1890, Wolf began referring to the work as Italian Serenade, perhaps in reference to a small orchestra that played an Italian serenade in Der Soldat I. Italian Serenade was first performed in Vienna in January of 1904, shortly after the composer�s death. This edition is edited for string orchestra by notable bassist Lucas Drew. String count of 8-8-5-5-5 included in the set.