String Quartet
String Quartet (2025) covers a wide range of introspection on the subject of love.
I.
The first movement, Invocation to St. Maximilian Kolbe, recalls the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe and his self-sacrifice at Auschwitz in 1941, during which he gave his life to set a man free to return to his family - a true act of sacrificing the self for the good of the other.
II.
The second movement is loosely based on the painting of the same name by Vincent van Gogh, in which a child is seen yearning for her father's arms.
III.
In Grace, a steady stream of pulse overcomes the quartet. This movement is palindromic and serves as the thematic entry point into the work as a whole.
IV.
Over the Town is loosely based on the painting of the same name by Marc Chagall, in which the painter and his wife are seen soaring over their hometown.
V.
Revocation of Grace is a reflection on acts of hate and malice, those acts in which the other is sacrificed for the self.
String Quartet (2025) covers a wide range of introspection on the subject of love.
I.
The first movement, Invocation to St. Maximilian Kolbe, recalls the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe and his self-sacrifice at Auschwitz in 1941, during which he gave his life to set a man free to return to his family - a true act of sacrificing the self for the good of the other.
II.
The second movement is loosely based on the painting of the same name by Vincent van Gogh, in which a child is seen yearning for her father's arms.
III.
In Grace, a steady stream of pulse overcomes the quartet. This movement is palindromic and serves as the thematic entry point into the work as a whole.
IV.
Over the Town is loosely based on the painting of the same name by Marc Chagall, in which the painter and his wife are seen soaring over their hometown.
V.
Revocation of Grace is a reflection on acts of hate and malice, those acts in which the other is sacrificed for the self.
- Ensemble
- String Quartet
- Duration
- c. 30 minutes
- Year
- 2025
Movements
Purchase
Instant digital download includes:
- Full Score
- Violin I Part
- Violin II Part
- Viola Part
- Cello Part
Frequently Asked
Yes. All five movements are designed to function as standalone works and may be programmed independently or in selected groupings. (note: Movement 4, Over the Town, is scored for only violin I and cello, so this can be used as supplemental repertoire for violin/cello duo)
Advanced conservatory to professional level. The work requires strong ensemble coordination, rhythmic precision, and comfort with contemporary techniques within a largely tonal framework.
Yes, though they are used idiomatically and in service of musical expression. The techniques are approachable for experienced contemporary players and do not require highly specialized preparation.
Yes, particularly for advanced university or conservatory quartets with experience in contemporary repertoire.
Yes. Each movement ranges from approximately 4–7 minutes and can be effectively programmed on its own. Movements I (“Invocation to St. Maximilian Kolbe”, scored for full quartet) and IV (“Over the Town", scored for Violin I and cello) are especially suitable as standalone works.
Yes. The score and parts are clearly engraved with attention to page turns, readability, and practical rehearsal use. In aleatoric sections, reference staves are added so players can coordinate easily. In many cases, reading off the score serves an easier coordination effort as well, it's a matter of preference.
Watch
First Steps, After Millet
VInvent van Gogh, 1890 • Oil on canvas
First Steps, After Millet shows a small child taking their first steps from mother to father, based on an earlier work by Jean-François Millet. Using bright colors and bold brushstrokes, Van Gogh adds his own feeling and energy to the scene, turning a simple family moment into a symbol of love, hope, and new beginnings.
Over the Town
Marc Chagall, 1918 • Oil on canvas
Over the Town shows Chagall and his wife, Bella Rosenfeld Chagall, flying above Vitebsk, the town where he grew up. Chagall is holding his wife close as she waives one hand open through the air.