Composer

:

Peter Ruzicka

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1992

Average_duration

:

23:14

Peter Ruzicka's String Quartet No. 3 ...über ein Verschwinden (On Disappearance) was composed in 1990 and premiered on October 28, 1990, in Munich, Germany. The quartet consists of four movements and has a duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, "Verschwinden" (Disappearance), begins with a slow and mournful melody played by the cello. The other instruments gradually join in, creating a somber and introspective atmosphere. The music builds in intensity, with the instruments playing off each other in a series of dissonant and angular phrases. The movement ends with a return to the opening melody, played softly and with a sense of resignation. The second movement, "Erinnerung" (Memory), is more upbeat and energetic than the first. The instruments play in a lively and syncopated rhythm, with occasional bursts of dissonance and tension. The music is characterized by sudden shifts in mood and tempo, reflecting the unpredictable nature of memory. The third movement, "Traum" (Dream), is the shortest of the four. It begins with a delicate and ethereal melody played by the violins, accompanied by pizzicato notes from the cello and viola. The music gradually becomes more complex and dissonant, with the instruments playing off each other in a series of overlapping phrases. The movement ends with a return to the opening melody, played softly and with a sense of longing. The final movement, "Wiederkehr" (Return), is the most complex and challenging of the four. It begins with a series of dissonant and angular phrases, played in unison by all four instruments. The music gradually becomes more fragmented and chaotic, with the instruments playing off each other in a series of overlapping and conflicting rhythms. The movement ends with a sudden and unexpected return to the opening melody, played softly and with a sense of resolution. Overall, Ruzicka's String Quartet No. 3 ...über ein Verschwinden is a powerful and emotionally charged work that explores themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The music is characterized by its complex harmonies, unpredictable rhythms, and sudden shifts in mood and tempo, reflecting the complex and often contradictory nature of human experience.

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