Quintet

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Violoncello, Piano — The Quintet for Piano and String Quartet was written for the American String Quartet in the summer of 2000.xa0 It is in one movement but has two distinct parts.xa0 The first is a slow movement characterized by dotted rhythms.xa0 It is a fantasy with some long flowing lines interrupted by short fragments usually in the piano.xa0 After a rather agitated section in 6/8 time, this section comes to a quiet close on a G-sharp major chord.xa0 The second section of this thirteen-minute work is marked “Fast and Energetic.”xa0 It begins with chords that recur throughout the movement and after two measures a long main theme is introduced which is developed and altered during the rest of the fast portion of the work.xa0 One could call this second part a sort of rondo form since this long lyrical theme returns always after contrasts.xa0 When it does return, it is treated often by means of imitation, but at the climax returns played in unison by the strings while the piano renders an energetic sixteenth note background.xa0 The work ends on an E-flat major chord though the piece is certainly not in any one key, but rather features quick modulations.xa0 One might call this non-tonal music which nevertheless always feels like it has a tonal center.—Samuel Adler