Work Overview
This work was created as a companion to Schubert's masterful
quintet of the same instrumentation. It is a mystery why the
two-cello quintet has yielded so few successful models compared
to its two-viola sibling - they seem equally balanced and
appealing.
This work is 'pure' music that uses no external narrative, poetry
or imagery, so each listener may imagine their own setting for
the unfolding internal drama. It is cast in one continuous
movement of four sections. The first moves at a fair pace,
exploring different pairings of the instruments. It is in
traditional ternary form with a slower middle section that
introduces new instrumental textures that will be explored later
in the work.
The second section is a slow movement, followed by what used to
be called a Minuet - a faster movement with lighter contrasting
material, though mostly in 7 rather than the usual 3 beats per
bar. The last section is a Presto Finale, marked by a slower
contrasting pool at its centre, and a reckless accelerando to the
final bar.
String Quintet was commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by
Julian Burnside AO QC, to be performed by the Jerusalem String
Quartet and Zvi Plesser in the Musica Viva Australia 2009
National Concert Series. It was first performed by these
musicians at the Perth Concert Hall, Western Australia, on the
5th of November 2009. The revised version was completed in June
2015.
Work Details
Year: 2009
Instrumentation: 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos.
Duration: 18 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Dedication note: Dedicated to Julian Burnside
Commission note: Commissioned by Julian Burnside for performance by Musica Viva Australia.
First performance: by Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser at Jerusalem Quartet (Perth Concert Hall) on 5 Nov 2009
Analysis
Resonate article: Jerusalem Quartet and Zvi Plesser by Mark Viggiani
Performances of this work
27 Nov 2015: at Melbourne String Ensemble 30th Anniversary Concert (Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall). Featuring Melbourne String Ensemble.
21 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
19 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (Llewellyn Hall ANU School of Music). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
17 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall). Featuring Zvi Plesser, Jerusalem Quartet.
16 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet & Zvi Plesser (Hobart Town Hall). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
14 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (City Recital Hall). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
13 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (Adelaide Town Hall). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
11 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (Conservatorium Theatre, Brisbane). Featuring Zvi Plesser, Jerusalem Quartet.
9 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (City Recital Hall). Featuring Zvi Plesser, Jerusalem Quartet.
7 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet & Zvi Plesser (Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
5 Nov 2009: at Jerusalem Quartet (Perth Concert Hall). Featuring Jerusalem Quartet, Zvi Plesser.
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