String Quartet - Grade 3
SKU:
AP.36-52703617
Composed by Alan Shulman.
This edition: Latham
Music. Quartet; Solo
Small Ensembles; String -
Quartet. LudwigMasters -
Latham Music. Book.
LudwigMasters
Publications
#36-52703617. Published
by LudwigMasters
Publications
(AP.36-52703617).
UPC:
735816385521.
English.
This
humorous little vignette
for string quartet was
composed in 1979 and was
originally intended to be
published by Piedmont
Music, the ASCAP division
of EB Marks Classical.
For reasons unknown,
however, it remained in
manuscript form until
2021, when a copy of the
composer's autograph
parts was discovered in
the archives of a
completely different Alan
Shulman piece. This newly
engraved Latham Music
edition therefore
represents the first
publication of Shulman's
delightful work, as well
as the first full score.
As the title suggests,
this is a medium-slow
rag, or cakewalk in a
loose AABA form. The
bluesy and graceful main
melody is introduced by
the first violin in a
call and response
exchange with the rest of
the ensemble. The
restatement of the
primary theme is led by
the second violin, with
the entire ensemble
playing pizzicato, having
the effect of playful
mockery. In the B
section, the first violin
earnestly reasserts the
stately grace from the
opening however, the
cello is clearly becoming
restless and decides to
take over the lead just
before the final reprise.
The lighthearted ending
again has the first
violin doing its best to
bring the tune to a
refined conclusion, but
the rest of the group
still has mischief in
mind. After a couple
moments of seeming
confusion, the ensemble
regroups at last and
plays the final riff with
resolute emphasis. If
you're looking to add a
light moment to a recital
program, or looking for a
short, medium level
contest piece that
players and audiences
alike will enjoy, this
little miniature is an
ideal choice!
These products
are currently being
prepared by a new
publisher. While many
items are ready and will
ship on time, some others
may see delays of several
months.
Classics for Contest: Viola
