String Quartet No. 4 (Ichmouratov)

Quartet No. 4
by Airat Ichmouratov
Airat Ichmouratov, String Quartet N4 "Time and fate" Score, First Page
Opus35
Composed2012 (2012)
DedicationNew Orford String Quartet
Performed26 July 2013 (2013-07-26)
Duration31 minutes (approximately)
Movements4
Scoring2 violins, viola, cello.

Airat Ichmouratov's String Quartet No. 4 "Time and Fate", Op. 35, was composed in spring 2012. It was commissioned and premiered by New Orford String Quartet on 26 July 2013 at Orford Arts Centre, Quebec, Canada.[1] Chamber Orchestra version of the quartet (arranged by composer and known as Chamber Symphony N4 Op.35a) was premiered by La Primavera Chamber Orchestra in Kazan, Russia on 3 September 2014 under the composer's baton[2][3]

Structure

The work comprises four movements:

  1. Allegro con fuoco
  2. Scherzo
  3. Larghetto / Grave
  4. Allegro Vivace

A typical performance of the work lasts around thirty one minutes.[4]

Composer Ichmouratov with Canadian violinist Eleonora Turovsky and her husband, cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky, in the summer of 2001.

String Quartet No. 4 was composed in the spring of 2012, shortly after the tragic death of the prominent violinist and teacher Eleonora Turovsky, who, according to the composer's own words, was someone he was very close to, almost like a second mother.[5] This event marked the first time in the composer's life when the passage of "time" took on a vividly visual aspect.

The 1st movement - Allegro con fuoco - sets the stage for the quartet's exploration of the interplay between time and fate, driven by personal loss and emotional depth. According to composers own words, the movement opens with a series of clockwork-like rhythms, immediately establishing the "Time" motif.[5]

Main theme in the first movement of Ichmouratov's String Quartet N4, Violin I part

mm. 1–6
\relative g'' { \clef "treble" \time 3/4 \key g \major | % 1 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \tempo "Allegro con fuoco" 4=84 \stemDown <g b>16 ^. [ _\ff ^ "Violin I" \stemDown d16 ^. \stemDown g16 ^. \stemDown d16 ^. ] \stemDown g16 ^. [ \stemDown d16 ^. \stemDown <d b'>16 ^. \stemDown g16 ^. ] \stemDown <d b'>16 ^. [ \stemDown g16 ^. \stemDown d16 ^. \stemDown g16 ^. ] | % 2 \stemDown g16 ^. [ \stemDown d16 ^. \stemDown g16 ^. \stemDown d16 ^. ] \stemDown g16 ^. [ \stemDown d16 ^. \stemDown b16 ^. \stemDown g16 ^. ] \stemDown b16 ^. _\mp r16 r8 | % 3 r4 \acciaccatura { \stemUp a'16 ( } \stemDown b8 ) ^. [ \stemDown g8 ^. ] _\mf \stemDown es8 ^. [ \stemDown c8 ^. ] \break | % 4 \stemUp b8 _. [ \stemUp a8 _. ] \stemDown b16 ^. [ \stemDown c16 ^. \stemDown d16 ^. \stemDown e16 ^. ] \stemDown d8 ^. [ \stemDown g8 ^. ] | % 5 \acciaccatura { \stemUp d'16 ( } \stemDown c8 ) ^. [ \stemDown b8 ^. ] \stemDown as16 ^. [ \stemDown g16 ^. \stemDown f16 ^. \stemDown g16 ^. ] \stemDown as8 ^. [ \stemDown c8 ^. ] | % 6 \times 2/3 { \stemDown b16 ^. [ \stemDown b16 ^. \stemDown b16 ^. } \stemDown g8 ^. ] \stemDown d'8 ^. [ \stemDown g,8 ^. ] \stemDown fis'8 ^. [ \stemDown g,8 ^. ] \bar "" }

The 2nd movement - Scherzo - is an expressive scherzo-valse with uneven changes in time signatures, symbolizing the passage of turbulent times. The harmonic language is rich and diverse, featuring frequent modulations that enhance the movement’s emotional complexity.

Scherzo-Valse theme in the second movement of Ichmouratov's String Quartet N4, Viola part

mm. 1–5
\relative c' { \clef "alto" \time 6/8 \key c \minor | % 1 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \tempo "Scherzo" 4.=66 r4. ^ "Viola" r8 \stemUp c16 ( [ _\mf \stemUp d16 \stemUp es16 ) \stemUp g,16 ( ] | % 2 \stemDown c8 ) r4 r4. | % 3 \time 3/8 r8 \stemUp c16 ( [ \stemUp d16 \stemUp es16 ) \stemUp g,16 ( ] \break | % 4 \time 5/8 \stemDown c16 [ \stemDown d16 ] \stemDown es16 [ \stemDown g16 ] \stemDown b16 [ \stemDown g16 ) ] \stemDown b16 ( [ \stemDown fis16 ] \stemDown d16 [ \stemDown b16 ) ] | % 5 \time 6/8 \stemDown g'8 ^. [ \stemDown d'8 ^. \stemDown d8 ^. ] \acciaccatura { \stemUp es16 ( } \stemDown d8 ) ^. [ \stemDown d16 ( \stemDown c16 \stemDown bes16 \stemDown g16 ) ] \bar "" }

The 3rd movement - Larghetto - opens with a melancholic and reflective theme played by the viola, which introduces the "Fate" motif. This motif, a rising seventh interval (D - F - C♯), serves as the central theme that persists throughout the entire movement. In an interview with Keith Horner about his first Chandos recording of the String Octet "Letter from an Unknown Woman", based on Stefan Zweig's novella of the same name, the composer discusses the same 'Fate' motif, which also appears multiple times in the octet and is characterized by a rising seventh interval (A - C - G♯).[6] The motif emerges as a recurring musical figure of profound thematic significance in the composer's numerous works, making its initial appearance in his Three Romances for Viola. This evolution of the motif can be heard in various composer's works. Often symbolizing themes of destiny and persistence, this motif manifests in various expressions throughout his music.

Opening theme with "Fate" motif in the third movement of Ichmouratov's String Quartet N4, Viola part

mm. 10–17
\relative d { \clef "alto" \time 3/4 \key d \minor | % 1 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \tempo "Larghetto" 4=70 \stemUp d4 ( ^ "Viola" _\pp \stemUp a'4 \stemUp g4 ) | % 2 \stemUp bes2. | % 3 \stemUp e,8 ( [ \stemUp f8 ) ] \stemUp g4 ( \stemUp f4 ) | % 4 \stemUp a2. \break | % 5 \stemUp d,8 ( [ \stemUp e8 ) ] \stemUp f4 ( \stemUp e4 ) | % 6 \stemUp g2. ^\fermata _\< | % 7 \numericTimeSignature\time 4/4 \stemUp d2 -\! _\mf ^\markup{ \small {Fate motif} } \stemUp f2 | % 8 cis'1 ^\fermata _\> \bar "" -\! }

The 4th movement - Allegro Vivace - begins with a turbulent, again clock-like mechanical entrance, setting an urgent tone. This is followed by an energetic theme that symbolizes the relentless passage of time. The movement then unfolds into a kaleidoscope of episodic themes, each contributing to a complex narrative that leads to a grand culmination, prominently featuring the Fate motif. In the virtuoso coda, the clock theme from the first movement suddenly reappears, driving the quartet towards a highly energetic and dazzling ending.

Opening theme in the 4th movement of Ichmouratov's String Quartet N4, Violin I part

mm. 10–17
\relative c'' { \clef "treble" \time 3/4 \key a \minor | % 1 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \tempo "Allegro vivace" 4=152 \stemDown c4 ^. _\mf ^ "Violin I" \stemDown g'4 ^. \stemDown g4 ^. | % 2 \acciaccatura { \stemUp as16 ( } \stemDown g4 ) ^- \stemDown f4 ^. \stemDown e4 ^. | % 3 \acciaccatura { \stemUp e16 ( } \stemDown d4 ) ^. \stemDown c8 ^. [ \stemDown e8 ^. ] \stemDown gis8 ^. [ \stemDown c8 ^. ] | % 4 \stemDown e2. \break | % 5 \stemDown fis8 ^. [ \stemDown g8 ^. ] \stemDown g8 ^. [ \stemDown g8 ^. ] \stemDown g8 ^. [ \stemDown g8 ^. ] | % 6 \stemDown dis8 ( [ \stemDown e8 ) ^. ] \stemDown b8 ( [ \stemDown c8 ) ^. ] \stemDown fis,8 ( [ \stemDown g8 ) ^. ] | % 7 \stemDown gis8 ^. [ \stemDown g8 ^. ] \stemDown f8 ^. [ \stemDown e8 ^. ] \stemDown d8 ^. [ \stemDown c8 ^. ] | % 8 \stemUp gis2. \bar "" }

Instrumentation

The original score is for 2 violins, viola and cello.

The composer also transcribed the piece for string orchestra, so it is often played by full string sections using more players for each part as well as an added double bass part which usually (but not always) doubles the cello part an octave lower.

Recording

External audio
The World premiere of String Quartet N4, performed by New Orford String Quartet, 26 July 2013 at Orford Arts Centre
audio icon I. Allegro con fuoco
audio icon II. Scherzo
audio icon III. Larghetto
audio icon IV. Allegro Vivace
  • ATMA Classique: Ichmouratov, String Quartet N4: by New Orford String Quartet – Release Date: 16th Mar 2018[7]

Critical reception

The recording of the quartet gained average-to-positive reviews. Frédéric Cardin of Ludwig Van Montreal wrote: "Simple and effective".[8] Terry Robbins of The Whole Note wrote about quartet: "it’s an extremely attractive four-movement work with a particularly lovely third movement.".[9] Steve Bergeron of La Tribune wrote: "very expressive, with beautiful melodies".[10]

References

  1. ^ "Par quatre chemins. François Dompierre, Airat Ichmouratov et Tim Brady". bibliotheques.paris.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Айрат Ишмуратов с блеском открыл новый сезон оркестра «La Primavera»". www.kazan.kp.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  3. ^ "A.Ichmouratov / Chamber Symphony N4". collections.cmccanada.org. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  4. ^ "Par Quatre Chemins - Dompierre, Ichmouratov, Brady". www.prestomusic.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "String Quartet No. 4, Op. 35, "Time and Fate"". www.highresaudio.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  6. ^ Horner, Keith (2 August 2019). "Ichmouratov: Orchestral Works". chandos.net. Chandos Records. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Par quatre chemins. Ichmouratov String Quartet N4". atmaclassique.com (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  8. ^ Cardin, Frédéric (2018-03-17). "CRITIQUE -Nouveau Quatuor à cordes Orford : les nouveaux chemins de la musique d'ici". ludwig-van.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  9. ^ Robbins, Terry (2018-03-28). "Strings Attached - April 2018". thewholenote.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ Bergeron, Steve (2018-02-16). "Un nouveau chemin à quatre pour le Nouveau Quatuor Orford". latribune.ca (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2024.