Composer

:

Morton Feldman

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1979

Average_duration

:

78:32

Morton Feldman's String Quartet is a composition that was completed in 1979. The piece was premiered on October 19, 1980, by the Group for Contemporary Music at the Alice Tully Hall in New York City. The quartet is a single movement work that lasts approximately six hours, making it one of the longest string quartets ever written. The String Quartet is characterized by its slow and quiet nature, with long sustained notes and delicate textures. The piece is written in a style that Feldman called "indeterminate," meaning that the performers have a certain amount of freedom in interpreting the score. The quartet is made up of four instruments: two violins, a viola, and a cello. The performers are instructed to play very softly throughout the piece, with the dynamics never rising above a mezzo-piano. The String Quartet is divided into several sections, each with its own distinct character. The opening section is marked by a series of long, sustained notes that gradually build in intensity. This is followed by a section of delicate, sparse textures, with the instruments playing in a hushed, almost whispered tone. The middle section of the quartet is marked by a series of slow, mournful melodies that are passed between the instruments. The final section of the piece returns to the sparse textures of the opening, with the instruments gradually fading away into silence. Overall, the String Quartet is a work of great subtlety and nuance, with a delicate beauty that is both haunting and mesmerizing. The piece is a testament to Feldman's unique approach to composition, which emphasized the importance of silence and space as much as the notes themselves. Despite its length and quiet nature, the String Quartet is a work of great power and emotional depth, and remains one of Feldman's most celebrated compositions.

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