Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 2 replaces traditional themes and developments with the idea of the score as 'a scenario for the players to act out with their instruments'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Elliott Carter described his String Quartet No. 4 as mirroring 'the democratic attitude in which each member of a society maintains his or her own identity while cooperating in a common effort'.
Compositional Technique
In Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 2, each of the four instruments is given a distinct musical character: first violin is capricious, second violin laconic, viola expressive, and cello florid.
Compositional Technique
Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 3 divides the quartet into two duos, each with its own sequence of contrasting movements, which unfold simultaneously.
Composer Biography
Elliott Carter, the composer, was encouraged in his early composing by the American pioneer Charles Ives.
Performer Biography
The Pacifica Quartet, the performers on this album, is the first resident ensemble in the history of the University of Chicago.
Notable Performances
The Juilliard Quartet, a renowned string quartet, rehearsed Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 3 for a year before its premiere due to its extreme difficulty.
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