Composer

:

Mieczyslaw Weinberg

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1987

Average_duration

:

16:30

Mieczyslaw Weinberg's String Quartet No. 17, Op. 146, was composed in 1980, and premiered in Moscow in 1981. The quartet is comprised of five movements, with a total duration of approximately 35 minutes. The first movement, marked Allegro molto, is characterized by its driving rhythms and intense energy. The quartet begins with a series of rapid, syncopated figures that set the tone for the entire movement. The music is highly contrapuntal, with each instrument contributing to a complex web of interlocking melodies and harmonies. The second movement, marked Adagio, is a stark contrast to the first. Here, Weinberg explores a more introspective and contemplative mood. The music is slow and mournful, with long, lyrical lines that are passed between the instruments. The movement is notable for its use of extended techniques, such as sul ponticello (playing near the bridge of the instrument) and harmonics (producing high, ethereal tones). The third movement, marked Allegro, returns to the energetic and rhythmic style of the first. The music is characterized by its driving ostinato figures and syncopated rhythms. The quartet explores a wide range of textures and dynamics, from frenzied, virtuosic passages to quiet, delicate moments. The fourth movement, marked Andante, is another slow and introspective movement. The music is characterized by its haunting melodies and rich harmonies. The quartet explores a wide range of timbres and textures, from the warm, sonorous sound of the lower strings to the delicate, shimmering sound of the upper strings. The final movement, marked Allegro, is a lively and energetic conclusion to the quartet. The music is characterized by its driving rhythms and virtuosic passages. The quartet explores a wide range of textures and dynamics, from frenzied, virtuosic passages to quiet, delicate moments. Overall, Weinberg's String Quartet No. 17, Op. 146, is a complex and challenging work that showcases the composer's mastery of counterpoint, harmony, and form. The quartet is notable for its use of extended techniques, its wide range of textures and dynamics, and its intense emotional depth.

More....