Composer

:

Herbert Howells

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1923

Average_duration

:

33:02

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Herbert Howells' String Quartet No. 3 In Gloucestershire is a four-movement work that was composed in 1923. The piece was premiered on May 15, 1924, by the London String Quartet at the Aeolian Hall in London. The first movement, marked Allegro moderato, begins with a lyrical and expressive melody played by the first violin. The other instruments soon join in, creating a rich and complex texture. The movement features a number of contrasting sections, including a more subdued middle section and a lively and energetic coda. The second movement, marked Adagio molto espressivo, is a slow and mournful piece that showcases Howells' gift for melody. The movement is characterized by its long, flowing lines and its use of rich harmonies. The third movement, marked Allegro vivace, is a lively and energetic scherzo that features a number of playful and rhythmic motifs. The movement is notable for its use of pizzicato and its frequent changes in tempo and mood. The final movement, marked Allegro molto, is a fast and frenetic piece that brings the quartet to a thrilling conclusion. The movement features a number of virtuosic passages for all four instruments, as well as a number of dramatic shifts in dynamics and tempo. Overall, Howells' String Quartet No. 3 In Gloucestershire is a masterful work that showcases the composer's skill in writing for the string quartet. The piece is characterized by its rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and complex textures, and it remains a popular and frequently performed work in the string quartet repertoire.

More....