Thread: my first string quartet

Hey ho, I haven't been around for a while but I thought I'd drop this by. I finished this movement but I never ended up completing the others. I'm hoping a string quartet somewhere asks me to - I will write them if someone is interested in playing them :-)

Anyway cheers!

Incredibly well-written. I don't think it needs any more movements, it feels very complete as it is. Consider entering this into quartet competitions (there are many). It would be a very good way to find a group that is enthusiastic about new music, and most competitions end with commissions of new works.

yea if you do more movements I'd make this the last movement. Perhaps have 2 movements that lead up to this, doing cameos of some motifs or some nice sounding counterpoints worked out to them even if the motifs don't physically appear yet. nice sense of form with tension and relief, pretty good stuff man.

Hey thanks guys. Hmm... single movement hey? I guess it could be (has been quite some time since I wrote it anyway).

By the way, how do you reply to threads? I could only find the "reply with quote" button .

Originally Posted by Tomposer

Hey thanks guys. Hmm... single movement hey? I guess it could be (has been quite some time since I wrote it anyway).

By the way, how do you reply to threads? I could only find the "reply with quote" button .

A little to the left.

what's more is you can't edit threads on this site, so if you do end up writing more movements, you'll have to start a new thread to get them on the OP or necromance this one.

Originally Posted by chee_zee

what's more is you can't edit threads on this site, so if you do end up writing more movements, you'll have to start a new thread to get them on the OP or necromance this one.

He he he... you're quite right. Just another reason why I shouldn't do the other movements - too much trouble to start a new thread or ask for a thread merge

Still, for some reason the "reply" button is not displaying in my browser. Weird...

I've already written to you, but did not say then this is fine string writing, idiomatic and getting a lot out of your instruments - you know them well.

I repeat This Is Not A Single Movement, somewhat A B A as it generally is, from about 3' to 5' is some kind of 'developmental' section. That gives an impression other movements are to follow. As a last movement, development there would surely put the brakes on whatever forward momentum has been created in a multiple movement piece. Semiotic expectations are also very much against.

This is incredibly 'dance-like' almost a pop music premise, without at all being a pastiche. Lively, fresh, very entertaining. What that could lead to, other than a 'formal' second slow movement, fast third, is a series of dance-like pieces, certainly acceptible since the baroque, and less limited as to 'tied in thought' from one movement to the next. John Adams' "Johns Book of Alleged Dances" comes to mind. [As one of a suite of dances, it has a better chance of succeeding as a final movement, though I still argue when you get down to any kind of 'development,' that is no longer what sits well as the final words.]

I would not let it stand alone. If one of a suite, you've got a very strong opening play, and like the Adams' collection of pieces, there is nothing 'academically criminal' in presenting just one of those movements if an ensemble wished to program it. The whole suite has a chance of being programmed, and any one movement may get programmed - something very desirable, of course, for a young composer.

I'd sit down and start writing some more, now, if this were mine and had come out as well as it has. Congratulations: but do add to this: one format, a middle and last, perhaps three more - one way to go // or a collection of dance-like movements, a suite - another way to go.

hey, my reply button is working!!

Thank you PetrB for your advice - I've read what you've written here very carefully and you have certainly made me think strongly about continuing the work as a suite - you've made a good argument for this case :-) Thank you for your encouragement - you have made a lot of sense.

aw man how did I forget the adams suite, I have score on my hard drive! that's a very good piece, do check it out if you haven't Tom, could serve as good inspiration if not direct influence.

Originally Posted by chee_zee

aw man how did I forget the adams suite, I have score on my hard drive! that's a very good piece, do check it out if you haven't Tom, could serve as good inspiration if not direct influence.

Ah yes, I know the piece through recordings though I've never looked at the score. I really enjoy the music of J.A., actually I've done some analyses of some of his music, some years ago now. I like to think my influence is wider than just J.A. but I have to admit the impression he's made on me is a relatively strong one.

Thank you everyone for the positive comments - it's really prompted me to consider writing a suite, for the very reasons that PetrB has been insightful about. I really need to make more of an effort to return here, you guys seem like a nice community (especially for an on-line forum).

Originally Posted by chee_zee

aw man how did I forget the adams suite, I have score on my hard drive! that's a very good piece, do check it out if you haven't Tom, could serve as good inspiration if not direct influence.

I like Toot Nipple.

Originally Posted by Tomposer

Hey ho, I haven't been around for a while but I thought I'd drop this by. I finished this movement but I never ended up completing the others. I'm hoping a string quartet somewhere asks me to - I will write them if someone is interested in playing them :-)

Anyway cheers!

I like this piece of music.

Thank you C-O-A-G.

PetrB, please note that I've responded to your message, however I'm having trouble establishing that my response has indeed been sent.

I'm not sure if you're familiar at all with Hauschka/Volker Bertelmann (you mentioned that Bjork influences you, and Hauschka is on the same label as her). Your writing does remind me a lot of his style, settling neatly in between the worlds of art music and pop music without feeling cheap or contrived as so much pop music does.