Composer

:

Arvo Pärt

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1989

Average_duration

:

9:59

Arvo Pärt's "Fratres" is a composition for string quartet that was composed in 1977. The piece premiered in the same year in Tallinn, Estonia. The composition consists of a series of variations on a simple theme, which is played by the first violin. The variations are separated by brief pauses, which give the piece a meditative quality. The first movement of "Fratres" begins with the theme played by the first violin. The other instruments gradually join in, playing variations on the theme. The variations become increasingly complex, with the instruments playing in different rhythms and at different tempos. The movement ends with a return to the simple theme. The second movement of "Fratres" is more subdued than the first. The instruments play in a slower tempo, and the variations are more subtle. The movement has a more contemplative quality than the first, with the instruments playing in a more restrained manner. The third movement of "Fratres" is more energetic than the previous two. The instruments play in a faster tempo, and the variations are more complex. The movement has a more frenetic quality than the previous two, with the instruments playing in a more agitated manner. Overall, "Fratres" is a composition that is characterized by its simplicity and its meditative quality. The variations on the theme are subtle and restrained, and the pauses between the variations give the piece a sense of contemplation. The composition is a testament to Pärt's minimalist style, which emphasizes simplicity and repetition.

More....