String Quartet

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String Quartet was composed in 1993 for the Charlestown String Quartet. It has won several composition awards including Menzione de Honor (highest award given) of the Mario Bernardo Angelo-Comneno International Music Competition by the Accademia Angelica Costantiniana Arti E Science (Rome, Italy) 1996. It in three movements – I. Allegro, II. Adagio, III. Rock Style. The first movement is in a Sonata form with the Primary thematic area with the tonal center of “C”. The Transition area goes to the Secondary thematic area of “F”. The Closing section ends on the tonality of “G”. The development starts with the tonal center of “G” and ending with a dominant pedal leading to the recapitulation of “C”. The Second theme in the recapitulation is in “C”. Although it follows the classic Sonata form structure including tonal centers, it is not a tonal composition in the classic sense. The Primary theme is built around an octatonic scale and throughout the movement there are extended tonal, quartile and extended harmonies. The second movement starts with three chords encompassing all twelve notes of the chromatic scale. The twelve notes are used extensively in the movement, although no standard techniques of dodecaphonic writing are followed. Expressive cantabile melodies are presented in the voices, often in counterpoint. Short contrasting segments of pointillism are interspersed with the cantabile sections. The ending coda presents the begging three chords in sequence ending with all instruments on a unison “G”. The third movement is in a Rondo form with the A section based on a rhythmic Rock and roll figure in octaves. The B, C and D sections give sections for solos for Violin. Cello and Viola. The ending Coda is similar to the coda of the first movement.