String Quartet
SKU:
HL.14031816
Composed
by Jean Joubert. Music
Sales America. Classical.
Book [Softcover]. Music
Sales #NOV12053901.
Published by Music Sales
(HL.14031816).
8.5x11.75x0.3
inches.
Though
conceived as four
separate movements, my
second string quartet has
a single motif which is
common to them all. This
is the three-note Muss es
sein? from Beethoven's
last quartet, Op. 135.
But whereas Beethoven's
theme is notated G E A
flat, thus giving it an F
minor connotation, I have
sued an alternative
spelling - G E G sharp -
which suggests an
ambiguous E minor-major.
This ambiguity, in fact,
becomes the tonal basis
of the whole work, only
to be resolved at the end
of the final movement.
Each movement begins with
a variant of the basic
motif on the cello. The
first has the original
form of the theme, while
the second has a
majorised version which
is also expressed as a
chord. The third
movement, with its
scherzoid middle section,
reverts to the
major-minor ambiguity of
the first, and the finale
begins with the majorised
version as an ostinato
accompaniment on
pizzicato cello. The slow
movement is sub-titled In
memoriam DSCH and
concludes with a
quotation of
Shostakovich's motto - D
E flat C B - which is
basically the same as
Beethoven's with the
addition of one note.
This is not to imply that
the work contains no
other thematic material.
One important theme, a
rising fifth and a
second, is also common to
three of the movements,
and is ultimately derived
from my first quartet,
Op. 1 of 27 years
earlier, to which this
second contribution to
the form is in many ways
like a sequel. Like the
earlier work, too, this
quartet is dedicated to
my wife.
Common 
Strauss II, Johann : Le Beau Danube bleu
