String Quartet No. 2
Peter W. Knell
About this work:
String Quartet No. 2 (Three California Landscapes) was composed in the spring of 2008 for the Ying Quartet. The imagery in the movement titles reflects impressions from my childhood, as well as the varied topography of my home state of California. Kern River was the location of a school camping trip that included white-water kayaking and rafting. The music reflects the bustling of the river and the gliding between rapids. Joshua Tree is the well-known desert park that was similarly the site of a school camping trip. The music depicts the stillness and fantasy of the desert night. Newport Beach was the site of several summer vacations, the highlight of which (at least at a certain age) was the boardwalk, complete with carnival rides and video arcades. This work was made possible by a grant from the Fromm Music Foundation.
Year composed: 2008
Duration: 15:00:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:String Quartet
Instrumentation: 2 Violin, 1 Viola, 1 Cello