String Quartet No. 3
| Year Composed: | 2014 |
| Instrumentation: | 2 violins, viola, cello |
| Duration | 13 minutes |
| I. | Gliding |
| II. | Winds of Change |
Audio Excerpts (MP3)
- I. Gliding
- II. Winds of Change
- Second Wind (feat. Skratch Bastid)
Program Notes
My Third String Quartet represents a broad attempt to weave some of my cherished musical influences into a coherent whole. In an effort to explore the roots of my musical identity, I have tried to find common ground among a diverse array of perspectives. The first movement, "Gliding," follows an arch-like structure in which a lyrical melody, part Far East folk song and part Renaissance chorale, bookends a middle section inspired by the driving rhythms of progressive heavy metal. These disparate elements are united by an ever-shifting ground of odd meters; and with it, a sense of free-flowing spontaneity and abandon.
The second movement, "Winds of Change," is based on an earlier work of mine that I have adapted many times for different ensembles. In this version, the theme -- a buoyant, minor-key dance in 6/8 -- competes with wry quotations from Christian Petzold's famous Minuet in G against the backdrop of an aggressive drone suggestive of world-music-inflected electronica. At times these references collide uneasily, threatening to blow apart the entire discourse; ultimately, however, the movement is a celebration of the joyous urgency which lies beneath the surface of all music-making.
Skratch Bastid's remix, Skratch my Bach, playfully riffs on the Minuet quotation, both in spirit and title (as the tune is often misattributed to Bach.) My response -- Second Wind -- brings the world of the DJ and the quartet into intimate proximity. The tension inherent in the dialogue between both traditions is dramatized by a fiery duel between the first violinist and her sampled counterpart.
Sheet Music
- Score & parts available for rental here.
Performances
- May 23, 2015 - Afiara String Quartet. Mazzoleni Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
- March 6, 2022 - INNERchamber String Quartet. Revival House, Stratford, ON
- September 3, 2022 - Dior String Quartet. Banff International String Quartet Competition, Banff, AB
- April 22/29, 2023 - St. Paul String Quartet Competition, Junior & Senior Division (Selected Work). St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- April 7, 2024 - String Quartet No. 3. Poiesis Quartet. Schneider Concerts, New York City, NY.
CD Release
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Commissions and Awards
- Commissioned by the Afiara String Quartet.
- JUNO nomination for Best Instrumental Album (2016)
Reviews
- "The first movement, Gliding, opens with raindrop-like pizzicato from the top three voices while [Drew] Dansby's cello offered sliding, blues-like riffs creating both agitation and intensity. The music develops beautifully, letting Lau's simple yet intriguing melodies to move through the players. At one point the viola had a sweet tune which transformed into a lament, with de Boor investing it with meaning.
As the movement developed, the players created marvelous interplay, able to soar at one moment and then quickly shift tempo and dynamics into an entirely different mood. First violin Ma and second violin Ball worked together very effectively, knowing when to draw out the lyrical moments and when to emphasize the perky intensity. The music at times had an almost folk-like simplicity with Lau knitting all the elements together into a classical structure that always held your interest.
In the second movement, Winds of Change, the cello was no longer something resembling a blues guitar in sound, and rather had the hard driving sound of a rock guitar. It opened quietly but quickly surged with striking outbursts from different voices, with a strong pulse always present. There were quirky glissandos dissolving into charming melodies. The Poiesis Quartet invested the music with insistence and always located the great power of the composers ideas. As the movement developed the music had the quality of a plea with aching music. These young players delivered slashing strains and gentle cries with equal force and artistry, all leading to the punchy conclusion.
By the end of this 14-minute work, I was under the spell not only of this talented quartet but also of composer Lau, whose voice is contemporary yet completely comfortable in classical garb. It was a tremendous start." - M.L. Rantal, Hyde Park Herald