String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major (own composition, Op. 2)

Описание: I. Lento molto - Allegro - Poco meno mosso 0:08
II. Intermezzo, Adagio sostenuto 13:03
III. Largo non troppo - Vivace con brio - Andantino 17:10

I didn't want to release this work yet, I wanted to release this work before the New Year but after a different composition, which is done but not ready to create the video for it. Oh well. Just know that I have both a Piano Concerto and a Piano Trio in the works, no spoilers.

After how much I loved my First String Quartet (in D Minor, "Mask"), I thought there was something missing. I believe that, in that Quartet, I hadn't shown my own personal style enough. This worked well for the context of a tribute to Shostakovich, but it still hindered my creative process in my opinion. I had many ideas on how to come up with a follow-up to my last Quartet, then I decided to make something that simply doesn't relate to anything in particular.

In the end of October 2025 I started this quartet after a simple idea, heard in the beginning of the work, inspired me to continue. Within 10 days I had finished a first draft, but I was still not done. It wasn't until a month later that I was satisfied, after changing so many sections, adding a couple of parts in and completely changing the ending.

Throughout this work, I tried to create more complex harmonies, counter-melodies and more. I also used techniques like playing on the bridge or fingerboard, or using a mute, to change the sound. I believe I am more proud of this work than my First String Quartet.


Movement I (Lento molto - Allegro - Poco meno mosso) - 0:08
This movement starts with a calm but concerning slowness, dominating throughout. sul tasto textures dominate the work, focusing on an uneasy slowness. After a cello solo, the cello introduces a new, much faster tempo, which tests the skills of the performers. After a growth follows a strong section with the violins taking the melody. Afterwards, it goes quiet again, keeping the same rhythmic drive and bringing in a long sul tasto melody in the first violin and later the viola. It then recalls themes and ideas from the beginning of the fast tempo before slowing back down. After an expressive cello solo with a melody similar to earlier in the Quartet, the music fades out with a held E-Flat Major chord and the motif from the beginning of the piece, eventually ending on D, creating a sort of deceptive cadence.

Movement II (Intermezzo, Adagio sostenuto) - 13:03
This short but quiet movement gives both the listeners and performers a break from what was the first movement. It is a short rondo, featuring the viola and the cello as the main melody-bringers of the movement. It starts in G Minor, but the cello entering in on a very high range brings about a transition to G Major, in which the short intermezzo ends. A shortened version of this movement was used as one of my compositions for the Presenting with Music component of IB Music.

Movement III (Largo non troppo - Vivace con brio - Andantino) - 17:10
In a slow-paced manner, a theme is established and developed. It's unlike the beginning of the first movement, for it has semblances of hope. But it is somewhat false, for we are all still shaken by the first movement. A fast and joyful rondo then starts, which begins with quiet pizzicato and develops into a joyful melody. But we still cannot know for sure what this warrants. Later, the viola and cello take turns with the melody, meanwhile the violins alternate between sul ponticello and sul tasto sections, before the final time the main melody is played. After which, every instrument descends in a rapid chromatic scale slowing down to a stop. After which, the violins put on their mutes and play the harmony of the next section, a moderate tempo, 3/4 section, also playing double-stops, whilst the cello and viola take turns with the melody. After this long section is the ending that was originally very different, but I decided that it didn't fit in. The ending begins with the first violin playing artificial harmonics, shown by the fourths where the top note has a diamond notehead. After a short viola melody, it alternates with the violins that use artificial harmonics. It then turns to F Minor, where the cello takes the melody, but instead the melody is in E-Flat Major, the main key of the Quartet. Even the harmony is in E-Flat Major, meanwhile the viola stubbornly plays the root note of F. Considering that it is really in E-Flat Major, the movement and Quartet ends on an imperfect cadence after a long and slow cello melody.

Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving feedback and supporting me and this piece.

If you want to check out my Musescore account to see my other compositions and arrangements there, search for “Theo SM” on Musescore. I could not upload this there due to file size.

Made and recorded with Musescore Studio 4.6.5 and ShapeIt (for EQ).

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