Composer

:

George Rochberg

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Average_duration

:

16:30

Ukiyo-e is a composition for string quartet composed by George Rochberg in 1987. The piece was premiered on March 22, 1988, by the Concord String Quartet at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The composition is divided into three movements, each of which is inspired by a different aspect of Japanese art. The first movement, titled "The Floating World," takes its name from the Japanese term ukiyo-e, which refers to a genre of woodblock prints that were popular in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). The movement is characterized by its use of repetitive, rhythmic patterns and its evocation of the bustling, colorful world depicted in ukiyo-e prints. The second movement, titled "Haiku," is inspired by the Japanese poetic form of the same name. The movement is characterized by its spare, delicate textures and its use of silence and space to create a sense of contemplation and introspection. The third movement, titled "Kabuki," takes its name from the traditional Japanese theater form of the same name. The movement is characterized by its dramatic, theatrical gestures and its use of dissonant harmonies and angular melodies to create a sense of tension and conflict. Overall, Ukiyo-e is a complex and multi-layered work that draws on a wide range of influences, from Japanese art and culture to contemporary Western classical music. Through its use of diverse musical techniques and its evocation of different aspects of Japanese art, the composition creates a rich and immersive sonic world that invites listeners to explore and engage with its many layers of meaning and expression.

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