Charcoal Bright

For: String quartet

Program Note: My first string quartet, inspired by the charcoal portraits of Frank Auerbach. The piece contains energetic outbursts, violin wailing in the form of counterpoint, and a few juicy tunes. The piece utilizes alla chitarra (like a guitar) strumming in the middle section, but with the pads of the fingers for a softer-edged sound. The piece is organized around a melodic theme presented in various ways, sometimes obscured and sometimes distracted from. The entire theme is revealed at the end in a tender, hushed chorale where the quartet utilizes extended techniques to create an "icy" tone.