PROGRAMME NOTE

This short movement for String Quartet (written with the intention of writing further movements around it to form a larger work) evolved from a fascination with short units of rhythm combine with sequences exploiting the interval of a fourth.

The importance of fourths in the thematic material can be heard quite clearly in the opening section where compact units of three beats each are heard in quick succession, each phrase building up in tension adding together the smaller units and then released. A short figure of four semiquavers followed by a quaver (or vice-versa_ together with a rising scale in seconds all add to help build up this tension. They recur throughout the piece always having the same function.

The second most important idea or theme is introduced in a completely different mood. It is introduced on the viola accompanied by a sul ponticello meandering line passed around in the background. Gradually the harmony surrounding this viola theme thickens with fragments of the opening bars which are thrown aside as the warmth of the theme grows. Again the tension is built up leading to a transformation of the opening three-beat figure into ⅝ time.

The climax of the whole piece comes after much interplay between all the ideas. Fourths fly around everywhere and the first and second violins chase each other with their fourths only a semi-quaver apart.

A combination of the semi-quaver/ quaver idea and the fourths from the beginning now appear after a G.P. ——- “Who is going to win the battle?” Glissandi are heard at the ends of notes and in between as each theme begins to weaken.

As you may have guessed the fourths from the beginning with their rhythmic drive win and they have the last laugh as the viola theme falls.

Lawrence Killian, Bath 1980

CONCERT PERFORMANCES/ REVIEWS

24 June 1980: B.A. Portfolio
Newton Park College, Bath, UK.
The Dartington String Quartet with Colin Sauer, Peter Carter, Keith Lovell, and Alexander Kok