Quartet
for the End of Time
(for
violin, clarinet, cello, and piano)
*Winner, 2009 Western Michigan New Music Project*
“Quartet for the
End of Time” is loosely based off the Olivier Messiaen composition of
the same
name.
While my piece has a basis in tonality, it contains styles and
techniques
that were used by Messiaen, such as non-retrogradable rhythms,
(rhythmic palindromes)
notated birdsong, and a feeling of timelessness. In addition, a few
brief
melodies are taken from Messiaen’s piece, and the form is largely
intact.
Messiaen’s Quartet contained 8 movements, and my piece consists of 4
movements,
with each movement being split into 2 sections.
Each of the 8
resulting segments is based on a movement of Messiaen’s quartet (the
exception
is the 4th movement,
which combines the 7th and 8th movements of the
Messiaen.) I
attempted to create
parallels in style, form and instrumentation between the two pieces:
For example, Messiaen’s 3rd movement is for
solo clarinet, and my 3rd segment (the beginning of the 2nd movement)
is for
solo cello.
The 4th movement of Messiaen’s quartet is a scherzo, and is
uncharacteristically tonal and playful for the piece.
My 4th segment attempts a
similar out-of-context playfulness. The 5th
movement was originally
for solo cello.
Mine begins with a solo violin (on the same note and duration),
but adds the piano after a few measures. Like Messiaen’s 6th
movement,
my 6th segment features the 4 instruments in unison, frequently
playing non-retrogradable rhythms (although not for the entire
movement).
While I didn’t
want my piece to end like Messiaen’s (his piece ends with a movement of
solo violin),
my version ends with a manufactured unison:
all 4 instruments drift off to an
A. This unison A was slowly converged upon throughout the piece, as my
1st
movement ended with a final chord of F# and C#,
the 2nd movement
ends with G and C, and the 3rd movement ends with G#, A# and B.
Reading session of Movement 4 by members of a well-known chamber
ensemble
hear
full live
performance of Quartet for the End of Time