Kuvia kevätpurolta – Jousikvartetto no 1

Pictures  of  a  Spring  Stream  –  String  Quartet  no.  1 (2006/2008).

For many years, after having composed this work, I considered it too short to be given such a heavily historical, and quite pompous, title of String Quartet; however, Silvestre Revueltas’ short and fresh work, the Quartet no. 4 “Musica  de Feria”, eventually changed my mind.

I Icicles Melting on the Branches in a fragile, cold and stagnant atmosphere, which is invigorated little by little by the dripping of melting ice.

II The Bubbles play under the Ice 
is still fragile and melancholic, but at the same time playfully sparkling.

III Butterflies – Too Early
rapidly take wing, stop numb with cold, try again and again, until they finally, even after many vigorous attempts, cannot overcome their environment.

IV Boats, Whittled from Bark
are launched with great fuss, the children have found eddies in the stream.

V Spring
takes sometimes a step backwards. The icy atmosphere from the beginning returns, but only in order to eventually burst into incandescence; but that is a different story... (Incandescence – String Quartet no. 3.