SKU: PR.16400272S

UPC: 680160588442. 8.5 x 11 inches.

My third quartet is laid out in a three-movement structure, with each movement based on an early, middle, and late work of the great American impressionist painter Mary Cassatt. Although the movements are separate, with full-stop endings, the music is connected by a common scale-form, derived from the name MARY CASSATT, and by a recurring theme that introduces all three movements. I see this theme as Mary's Theme, a personality that stays intact while undergoing gradual change.   I The Bacchante (1876) [Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]   The painting shows a young girl of Italian or Spanish origin, playing a small pair of cymbals. Since Cassatt was trying very hard to fit in at the French Academy at the time, she painted a lot of these subjects, which were considered typical and universal. The style of the painting doesn't yet show Cassatt's originality, except perhaps for certain details in the face. Accordingly the music for this movement is Spanish/Italian, in a similar period-style but using the musical signature described above. The music begins with Mary's Theme, ruminative and slow, then abruptly changes to an alla Spagnola-type fast 3/4 - 6/8 meter. It evokes the Spanish-influenced music of Ravel and Falla.   Midway through, there's an accompanied recitative for the viola, which figures large in this particular movement, then back to a truncated recapitulation of the fast music. The overall feeling is of a well-made, rather conventional movement in a contemporary Spanish/Italian style. Cassatt's painting, too, is rather conventional.   II At the Opera (1880) [Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts]   This painting is one of Cassatt's most well known works, and it hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The painting shows a woman alone in a box at the opera house, completely dressed (including gloves) and looking through opera glasses at someone or something that is NOT on the stage. Across the auditorium from her, but exactly at eye level, is a gentleman with opera glasses intently watching her - though it is not him that she's looking at. It's an intriguing picture.   This movement is far less conventional than the first movement, as the painting is far less conventional. The music begins with a rapid, Shostakovich-type mini-overture lasting less than a minute, based on Mary's Theme. My conjecture is that the woman in the painting has arrived late to the opera, busily stumbling into her box. What happens next is a kind of collage, a kind of surrealistic overlaying of two different elements: the foreground music, at first is a direct quotation of Soldier's Chorus from Gounod's FAUST (an opera Cassatt would certainly have heard in the brand-new Paris Opera House at that time), played by Violin II, Viola, and Cello. This music is played sul ponticello in the melody and col legno in the marching accompaniment. On top of this, the first violin hovers at first on a high harmonic, then descends into a slow melody, completely separate from the Gounod. It's as if the woman in the painting is hearing the opera onstage but is not really interested in it. Then the cello joins the first violin in a kind of love-duet (just the two of them, at first). This music isn't at all Gounod-derived; it's entirely from the same scale patterns as the first movement and derives from Mary's Theme and its scale. The music stays in a kind of dichotomy feeling, usually three-against-one, until the end of the movement, when another Gounod melody, Valentin's aria Avant de quitter ce lieux reappears in a kind of coda for all four players. It ends atmospherically and emotionally disconnected, however. The overall feeling is a kind of schizophrenic, opera-inspired dream.   III Young Woman in Green, Outdoors in the Sun (1909) [Worcester Art Museum, Massachusetts]   The painting, one of Cassatt's last, is very simple: just a figure, looking sideways out of the picture. The colors are pastel and yet bold - and the woman is likewise very self-assured and not in the least demure. It is eight minutes long, and is all about melody - three melodies, to be exact (Young Woman, Green, and Sunlight). No angst, no choppy rhythms, just ever-unfolding melody and lush harmonies. I quote one other French composer here, too: Debussy's song Green, from Ariettes Oubliees. 1909 would have been Debussy's heyday in Paris, and it makes perfect sense musically as well as visually to do this.   Mary Cassatt lived her last several years in near-total blindness, and as she lost visual acuity, her work became less sharply defined - something akin to late water lilies of Monet, who suffered similar vision loss. My idea of making this movement entirely melodic was compounded by having each of the three melodies appear twice, once in a pure form, and the second time in a more diffuse setting. This makes an interesting two ways form: A-B-C-A1-B1-C1.   String Quartet No.3 (Cassatt) is dedicated, with great affection and respect, to the Cassatt String Quartet, whose members have dedicated themselves in large measure to the furthering of the contemporary repertoire for quartet.

SKU: CF.CM9583

ISBN 9781491154052. UPC: 680160912551. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: Eb major. English. Thomas Moore (1779-1852).

Thomas Moore (17791852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. In his poem, On Music, Moore emphasizes the power that music has in our lives and the ability it has to evoke memories and feelings from the past. Music transcends that which can be spoken or felt. The beauty of making music together is to establish meaningful connections with others and to share a common language through song. We are reminded, however, that relationships with each other can be fluid or unstable, but as the words of the poem remind us, music will not betray. No matter the experiences that we face, the relationships that we foster, or the memories that we create, music will always be there for us in times of need and in times of celebration. What does music mean to you? How does it enrich your life? On Music Thomas Moore When through life unblest we rove, Losing all that made life dear, Should some notes we used to love, In days of boyhood, meet our ear, Oh! how welcome breathes the strain! Wakening thoughts that long have slept, Kindling former smiles again In faded eyes that long have wept. Like the gale, that sighs along Beds of oriental flowers, Is the grateful breath of song, That once was heard in happier hours. Filld with balm the gale sighs on, Though the flowers have sunk in death; So, when pleasures dream is gone, Its memory lives in Musics breath. Music, oh, how faint, how weak, Language fades before thy spell! Why should Feeling ever speak, When thou canst breathe her soul so well? Friendships balmy words may feign, Loves are even more false than they; Oh! tis only musics strain Can sweetly soothe, and not betray. Note to the performer: Liberty can be taken with the tempo markings and rubato should be used throughout in order to further stress the beauty and significance of the text. With its vocal-like descant, the flute should be treated as an additional voice rather than mere accompaniment to enhance the texture of the piece.
Thomas Moore (1779a1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. In his poem, On Music, Moore emphasizes the power that music has in our lives and the ability it has to evoke memories and feelings from the past. Music transcends that which can be spoken or felt. The beauty of making music together is to establish meaningful connections with others and to share a common language through song. We are reminded, however, that relationships with each other can be fluid or unstable, but as the words of the poem remind us, music will not betray. No matter the experiences that we face, the relationships that we foster, or the memories that we create, music will always be there for us in times of need and in times of celebration. What does music mean to you? How does it enrich your life? On Music a Thomas Moore When through life unblest we rove, Losing all that made life dear, Should some notes we used to love, In days of boyhood, meet our ear, Oh! how welcome breathes the strain! Wakening thoughts that long have slept, Kindling former smiles again In faded eyes that long have wept. Like the gale, that sighs along Beds of oriental flowers, Is the grateful breath of song, That once was heard in happier hours. Fillad with balm the gale sighs on, Though the flowers have sunk in death; So, when pleasureas dream is gone, Its memory lives in Musicas breath. Music, oh, how faint, how weak, Language fades before thy spell! Why should Feeling ever speak, When thou canst breathe her soul so well? Friendshipas balmy words may feign, Loveas are even more false than they; Oh! atis only musicas strain Can sweetly soothe, and not betray. Note to the performer: Liberty can be taken with the tempo markings and rubato should be used throughout in order to further stress the beauty and significance of the text. With its vocal-like descant, the flute should be treated as an additional voice rather than mere accompaniment to enhance the texture of the piece.
Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. In his poem, On Music, Moore emphasizes the power that music has in our lives and the ability it has to evoke memories and feelings from the past. Music transcends that which can be spoken or felt. The beauty of making music together is to establish meaningful connections with others and to share a common language through song. We are reminded, however, that relationships with each other can be fluid or unstable, but as the words of the poem remind us, music will not betray. No matter the experiences that we face, the relationships that we foster, or the memories that we create, music will always be there for us in times of need and in times of celebration. What does music mean to you? How does it enrich your life? On Music - Thomas Moore When through life unblest we rove, Losing all that made life dear, Should some notes we used to love, In days of boyhood, meet our ear, Oh! how welcome breathes the strain! Wakening thoughts that long have slept, Kindling former smiles again In faded eyes that long have wept. Like the gale, that sighs along Beds of oriental flowers, Is the grateful breath of song, That once was heard in happier hours. Fill'd with balm the gale sighs on, Though the flowers have sunk in death; So, when pleasure's dream is gone, Its memory lives in Music's breath. Music, oh, how faint, how weak, Language fades before thy spell! Why should Feeling ever speak, When thou canst breathe her soul so well? Friendship's balmy words may feign, Love's are even more false than they; Oh! 'tis only music's strain Can sweetly soothe, and not betray. Note to the performer: Liberty can be taken with the tempo markings and rubato should be used throughout in order to further stress the beauty and significance of the text. With its vocal-like descant, the flute should be treated as an additional voice rather than mere accompaniment to enhance the texture of the piece.
Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. In his poem, On Music, Moore emphasizes the power that music has in our lives and the ability it has to evoke memories and feelings from the past. Music transcends that which can be spoken or felt. The beauty of making music together is to establish meaningful connections with others and to share a common language through song. We are reminded, however, that relationships with each other can be fluid or unstable, but as the words of the poem remind us, music will not betray. No matter the experiences that we face, the relationships that we foster, or the memories that we create, music will always be there for us in times of need and in times of celebration. What does music mean to you? How does it enrich your life? On Music - Thomas Moore When through life unblest we rove, Losing all that made life dear, Should some notes we used to love, In days of boyhood, meet our ear, Oh! how welcome breathes the strain! Wakening thoughts that long have slept, Kindling former smiles again In faded eyes that long have wept. Like the gale, that sighs along Beds of oriental flowers, Is the grateful breath of song, That once was heard in happier hours. Fill'd with balm the gale sighs on, Though the flowers have sunk in death; So, when pleasure's dream is gone, Its memory lives in Music's breath. Music, oh, how faint, how weak, Language fades before thy spell! Why should Feeling ever speak, When thou canst breathe her soul so well? Friendship's balmy words may feign, Love's are even more false than they; Oh! 'tis only music's strain Can sweetly soothe, and not betray. Note to the performer: Liberty can be taken with the tempo markings and rubato should be used throughout in order to further stress the beauty and significance of the text. With its vocal-like descant, the flute should be treated as an additional voice rather than mere accompaniment to enhance the texture of the piece.
Thomas Moore (1779–1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. In his poem, On Music, Moore emphasizes the power that music has in our lives and the ability it has to evoke memories and feelings from the past. Music transcends that which can be spoken or felt. The beauty of making music together is to establish meaningful connections with others and to share a common language through song.We are reminded, however, that relationships with each other can be fluid or unstable, but as the words of the poem remind us, music will not betray. No matter the experiences that we face, the relationships that we foster, or the memories that we create, music will always be there for us in times of need and in times of celebration. What does music mean to you? How does it enrich your life?On Music – Thomas MooreWhen through life unblest we rove,Losing all that made life dear,Should some notes we used to love,In days of boyhood, meet our ear,Oh! how welcome breathes the strain!Wakening thoughts that long have slept,Kindling former smiles againIn faded eyes that long have wept.Like the gale, that sighs alongBeds of oriental flowers,Is the grateful breath of song,That once was heard in happier hours.Fill’d with balm the gale sighs on,Though the flowers have sunk in death;So, when pleasure’s dream is gone,Its memory lives in Music’s breath.Music, oh, how faint, how weak,Language fades before thy spell!Why should Feeling ever speak,When thou canst breathe her soul so well?Friendship’s balmy words may feign,Love’s are even more false than they;Oh! ’tis only music’s strainCan sweetly soothe, and not betray.Note to the performer: Liberty can be taken with the tempo markings and rubato should be used throughout in order to further stress the beauty and significance of the text. With its vocal-like descant, the flute should be treated as an additional voice rather than mere accompaniment to enhance the texture of the piece.

SKU: PR.11440505S

UPC: 680160008391. 11 x 14 inches.

Although structurally it subdivides into five movements, the entire quartet emerges as one vast continuum. There are no formal breaks between movements. However, certain musical signposts can be discerned, associated with each of the movements' terminations and new beginnings. The opening movement, The Nostalgia of Clanging Bell Sonorities, begins floating on recurrent Bbs whose soft rhythmic flow slowly puts into motion strong undercurrents suggestive of the latent power of water... After several suggestions of tolling bells, the movement gradually fades into hushed tones of veiled and very distant sonorities. It uses a unique effect, for the first time in a musical context, conveyed through the use of extra heavy practice mutes. The second movement, The Spill of Water, disengages itself from the first through its distinct contrast in tempo. Water moves fast, and when it splashes, it tends to run wildly. In this case, it happens to be bubbly water that gushes forth bodly... smashing across rocky shorelines. So, too, the music attempts to conjure such moods. At the end of this movement, a cello cadenza emerges, introducing an introspective type of melodicism. The third movement, The Poignancy of Memory, contains many silences as it tries to convey memory through fragmented remembrances much like often occur in our dream state. Progressing through several slowly building images, it gradually works itself into juxtaposition of musical images. Towards the movement's end, high harmonics are sounding in all four instruments while left hand pizzicato notes in the cello pluck the last remembrances of this central core. Almost imperceptibly, the viola assumes leadership as it dissolves into: The fourth movement, The Fluidity of Motion, which has mostly the viola, but also the cello, articulating lyrical statements against sheets of sound conjured up by the two violins playing a flood of swirling figures, evokes a kind of static motion in space. Here , the virtually imperceptible manner in which this hushed whisper continues incessantly, can suggest the potential fluidity with which movement may inch forward... Later into the fourth movement, two fairly extended solos by the second and then the first violins, lead to a kind of spontaneous dialogue amont the four instrumentalists. Eventually, this musical conversation gets caught up in: The fifth movement's The Rush of Time, which opens with a hushed flurry of speed, precipitates the Finale. It generates, at first slowly, but then very swiftly, whole shifts of rhythmic fields that initially seem to conflict with one another. Ultimately, this use of psycho-rhythmics contributes to an on-rush seem of motion and time. Rhythmic changes are, at times, abruptly precipitated with but little or no preparation creating a kind of inevitability in forward thrust, while the movement rushes forward with a feeling of gradual and continuous acceleration. It gathers density as more and more notes are piled progressively upon successive beats. The attempt is to spark tension and ignite excitement by means of frenetic confrontations of dissimilitudes. Ultimately - with the help of time - these polarities centrifically spin out their own destinies with their accompanying fall-out and own inevitable resolutions.