Allegro Quartet – traditional clarinet quartet

Allegro Quartet (1/16/18) for clarinet, violin, viola and cello – 12’30”.  This piece is about energy, and in a way, about the varied meanings of allegro. It is lively, even in its “slow” movement, and uses a variety of textures and figuration to remain fresh and cheerful.  The opening movement, marked allegramente (nimbly, lightly, vivaciously), creates its energy from syncopation and unexpected chromaticism.  The second movement begins and ends slowly. However, even here, the thirty-second note runs prevent a complete sense of ease.  The final allegro resembles a movement in a concerto grosso with a four-measure ritornello. The first solo is a lively melody from the clarinet.  Each instrument, in turn, has a solo that speaks in its own voice.   At the end, the clarinet’s first melody is played by pairs of instruments before the final tutti.

Difficult

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To listen to an excerpt from the first movement click here.