Composer

:

R. Murray Schafer

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1989

Average_duration

:

19:30

String Quartet No. 4 is a composition by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer. It was composed in 1985 and premiered on March 22, 1986, by the Purcell String Quartet in Toronto, Canada. The quartet consists of four movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, marked "Allegro," is characterized by its energetic and rhythmic drive. The opening theme is introduced by the first violin and is then developed and passed between the instruments. The movement features a variety of textures, including pizzicato and tremolo, and ends with a sudden, unexpected stop. The second movement, marked "Adagio," is a slow and contemplative piece. It begins with a mournful melody played by the cello, which is then taken up by the other instruments. The movement is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which create a sense of tension and unease. The third movement, marked "Scherzo," is a lively and playful piece. It features a fast and rhythmic ostinato in the lower instruments, over which the upper instruments play a series of playful melodies. The movement is characterized by its use of syncopation and irregular rhythms. The final movement, marked "Allegro," is a fast and energetic piece that brings the quartet to a thrilling conclusion. It features a driving rhythm and a series of virtuosic passages for each instrument. The movement is characterized by its use of complex polyrhythms and its sense of urgency and excitement. Overall, String Quartet No. 4 is a complex and challenging work that showcases Schafer's mastery of the string quartet form. It is characterized by its use of rhythmic drive, dissonance, and chromaticism, as well as its playful and virtuosic passages.

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