related works

The Story of the Dragonfly : for harp / Rieteke Hölscher

Genre: Chamber music
Scoring: hp

Kwartet no. 2 : voor 2 violen, altviool en violoncel / Reine Colaço Osorio-Swaab

Genre: Chamber music
Subgenre: String quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)
Scoring: 2vl vla vc

Etude : for string quartet, 1983/85 / Reinbert de Leeuw

Genre: Chamber music
Subgenre: String quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)
Scoring: 2vl vla vc

Pallas Athene : for string quartet / Cornelis Dopper

Genre: Chamber music
Subgenre: String quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)
Scoring: 2vl vla vc

composition

String Quartet Nº 2 / Rieteke Hölscher

Other authors:
Hölscher, Rieteke (Composer)
Description:
This composition in three movements is highly inspired by music history and the string quartets of Béla Bartók in particular. I started writing this piece right after the terrorist-attacks in Paris that took place in November 2015, while the world was in a state of agitation. I tried to capture this feeling in the first movement and used the letters of the word ‘peace’ in chords and melodic motifs.
The second movement is like a dream of a perfect world. The title is in line with the “Imagine” by John Lennon that was played in the streets of Paris shortly after the attacks – as tribute to the victims. The final movement is a conclusion: we may desire for a better world – even a perfect world, but it might be an Utopia. Live goes on, and sometimes very fast. This movement is alternately furious and more gentle of character, so that it reflects this contradiction.

Rieteke Hölscher, October 2017