Southern Landscapes – string quartet

Southern Landscapes (1981) for string quartet – 15’40”.  In the first movement, each instrument has a characteristic solo within the context of the whole that results in a dialog, full of overlapping voices, and differing points of view with sudden agreements.  The second movement is an adagio that seems dissolute until the middle section. There, a pained, chromatic canon between the upper voices provides a sharp focus before the dissolute material returns.  The third movement is a Latin-flavored dance in shifting meters and rhythms. It has a light-hearted and fragile quality that is at odds with its rhythmic vitality.

The finale features rapidly descending scales against a bold statement from the cello. The middle section brings back the idea of dialog. Here, the context is one of longing and despair. The opening returns before a brief codetta reminding listeners of the middle section.

Difficult

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To listen to the third movement, click here.