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String Quartet No. 1 "String Theory"

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Score

michael-thomas alexander foumai

String Quartet No.1 “String Theory” (2006)


String Quartet No. 1 “String Theory” 1. C4 Variations on “C” | 5:40 2. a2 + b2 = c2 | 6:40 3. The Laws of Motion | 3:10 4. Murphy’s Law | 0:01-3:00 5. The Theory of Every-string |8:20

Duration : 26-28 minutes Movements can be performed as separate pieces.

PROGRAM NOTES The String Quartet No.1 is inspired by a mathematical approach to theoretical physics known as “string theory.” Inherently, the theory of strings is very difficult to explain. Fortunately, string theory as it is known in the realm of mathematics, has nothing to do with this piece. Instead, the theory made for a neat play on words and a great title for a new work. Thus, in keeping with a scientific approach, the quartet is a kind of science experiment in composition.

1. C4 : Va ri at io ns o n C Spanning the entire spectrum of music itself, any tangible musical idea can be varied. Most commonly, a melody is varied, but why not a single pitch. In his Musica Ricercata, Ligeti explored a unique form of serial chromaticism of which his first movement is based on one pitch. Likewise, these variations on C are exclusive to the “letter” C but not limited to its sounding pitch. C can be viewed as having two paths of interpretation: pitch and key. In this movement, C is varied in pitch and performance. C can be performed, especially with stringed instruments, in a multitude of techniques. Violins tuned in scordatura employ exclusive use of bariolage between a fingered C and open C on what would normally be an open E string. Use of left and right hand techniques lend various color changes, yet nowhere is there more a juxtaposition of variation with the source, than with written C itself. Middle C and its location both in treble and bass clef is a pitch with dual identity. Depending on how it is viewed, it is very possible to attain all 12 pitch of the chromatic scale, and maybe a few quartertones here and there.

2. a 2 + b 2 = c 2 The Pythagorean theorem is one of the earliest mathematical theorems known to ancient civilizations. Named after the Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras, the theorem states, “The area of the square built upon the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares upon the remaining sides.” So influential is this theorem, it has gone on to become the center of Geometry and its forerunner. Many composers have used the equation to base their works. This is not one of those pieces. This is a movement that stands to stretch melody to it’s barest component and proposes a new theorem based in music: A + B + C = Melody.

3. Th e La ws o f Mo ti on Written in a “Glassian” style, this movement is inspired by none other than Issac Newton’s three universal laws of motion. Originally written as a separate piece titled Metamorphosis, after the story by Franz Kafka in which a man psychologically mutates into a roach, the piece tended to follow a basic principle of which Newton, with some help, seemed to describe with stunning accuracy: [Music] in motion tends to stay in motion.

4. Mu rp hy ’s L aw Murphy's Law is a popular saying in Western culture that states: things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance. In other words, if there are multiple possibilities of doing something, and one of those possibilities will end in some sort of disaster, someone will do it that way. Likewise, music is an unfortunate field to which Murphy’s Law has somehow taken a dominant residency. No matter how much rehearsal one can go through, whether it be Bach or Bartok, the final performance never seems to go the way it went in rehearsal. This movement is a game or kind of musical rubiks cube that strives to test Murphy’s Law at its core. Given several parameters, performers will use their instruments and ears in an exercise of telepathic communication, if done correctly the performers should be able to finish the game in under 3 minutes, however there is always a chance for Murphy’s Law to take effect!

5. Th e Th eo ry o f Ev er y-s tr in g. Inspired by a hypothetical theory that fully explains and links together all known physical phenomena, this final movement has nothing to do with the theory, theoretically. The piece, an obvious a play on words, features arpeggiando bowing across “all the strings.” Mathematically, the theory of everything doesn’t apply here, however in the spirit of complete synthesis, it’s very possible to suspect sections taken from previous movements.

PERFORMA NCE NOTES -

Two extra violins are required to perform the first movement. Violins should be located near the performer for quick instrument changes. It is suggested that the violins be tuned accordingly before the piece has begun. Likewise, there should be an extra chair or violin stand put aside so that that the performers primary instrument can be set down between changes.


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         

Vln. I

                                                         0 0

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B                                                                              

Vln. I

                                                            0 0

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Vln. II

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     Sounding Pitch

    

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16

                                                                              6

Vln. I

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                                               0 0 0 0

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                                                               Vln. II

             0

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20

C                                                                                          6

Vln. I

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                                                  0 0 0 0

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                                                                                Vln. II

                                 0

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            

Vln. I

                                                       0 0

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                                                                                        Vln. II

             0

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 31

                                                                                

Vln. I

                                                              0 0

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               Vln. II

                                                 0

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37

D                                                                           

Vln. I

                                                        0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

mp

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp

p

                                                                             Vln. II

                                                           0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0 0 0

mp

Vla.

 

0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0

pp

0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

pp

p

                              4 0

mp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0


5

42

                                                          

Vln. I

                                                    0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

mp

0

0

0

0

0

mf

                                                              

                                                                  

Vln. II

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Vla.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

mp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

mf

                0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

mp

0

0

0

0

0

0

mf

47

E                                                      

Vln. I

                                     0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp sub.

mp

mp

0 0

0 0

pp sub.

                                                                                       Vln. II

                                                      0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0 0 0

0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp

Vla.

  

0

0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp sub.

mp

0

0

mp

0 0

0 0

0

pp sub.

                    0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp sub.

mp

pp

0

0

0

0

mp

0

0

0

0

0

pp sub.

52

                                                                      

Vln. I

                                                           0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

pp

mf

cresc. poco a poco

                                                                               Vln. II

                                                           0

0 0

0 0

0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0

pp

mf Vla. 

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

cresc. poco a poco

                          0

mf

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

cresc. poco a poco

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0


6

58

F                                                                   

Vln. I

 

 









 

 









 

 







(mp)



 

 









  

 













f bright

(mp)

                                                                  Vln. II

                                                                  0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

(mp)

Vla.

Vc.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

f bright

(mp)

            0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

(mp)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

(mp)

 

0

f bright



0



0



0



0



0



0



f bright

63

                                                                  

                                                                       

Vln. I

fff

(mp)

           Vln. II

                                                                  fff

(mp)

Vla.

          0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

          fff

67

 

Vln. I

        mp sub, ambient

 

      

      

      

(mp)

      

       

     

     

     

     

       Vla.  

     

     

     

(mp)

     

Vln. II

0

fff

(mp)

Vc.

0

mp sub, ambient

mp sub, ambient

 

   

   


7

G Con moto (e = q) 72      to primary Vln. I  

ppp

Vln. II

    

Primary Violin pizz.

to primary

p

 

p

     

ppp

pizz.

                       

p

                                        pizz.

Vc.

Primary Violin pizz.

ppp

Vla.

  

 

p

 

 77   Vln. I 

Vln. II

Vla.

   

   

 

 

 

               

  Vc. 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

sfz

       sfz

   

   

sfz

sfz

G.P.

H

Fast, q = 170

    Vln. I    84

p

Vln. II

 

   

 

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

 

                                                  p

Vla.

Vc.

    

   p

p



   

  

   



   

  

   



   

  

   



   

  

   



   

  

   



   

  


8

  Vln. I    90

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 I

  

 

                                     

Vln. II

   

Vla.

Vc.



  

  

   

   

   

   



  

   

  



   

  

  

        

    

   

    

  

  

  

 

       Vln. I    96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 J

 

 

                                                        

Vln. II

  

Vla.

Vc.

 

   















        

                                   



 

     103

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

              sfz f 

                                                    sfz f                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

     

                          

sfz f





  

sfz f


K       110                           Vln. I      dim. 9

p

f

(mp)

Vla.

dim.

p

              Vc.     dim.

sfz

f

(mp)

     p

Vln. II

  

Vla.

 



   

  

f



  

 

arco 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

mp

 

                 

    



    

Sounding Pitch

mp

 

pp

to secondary               

  

 

  

(mp)

f

                          

q. = q

mp



sfz

L

               Vln. I   

f

                  

    

     

      

        

f

sfz

f

117

Vc.

                                dim. f (mp) p     sfz                                

Vln. II



              

Secondary Violin arco 0

             

 

0

0 0

0 0

0

pp

mp

 

 

 

         

 

 

p

mp

p

        Vln. I                                           122

0

0

0

0

0

pp sub.

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

mp

(mp)

to secondary

0

 

  

                                                

 

                                 0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

 

 

  

 

0

0

0

0

 

0

0

0

0

0

0

mp

arco

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

     0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

mp

 

0

0

0


10

126

                                                                      

Vln. II

                                                                       0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

mp

Vla.

Vln. I

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

mp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

0

                 0

Vc.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

131

 

  

  

 

Violin Secondary    

Sounding Pitch

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

mp

0

 

 

 

                               

                                pp

                Vln. II

                                                                  0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p sub.

mf

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p

 Vc.  

0

             0

Vla.

0

arco

 

0



0



0



0



0

0



pp

0

0

0

mf

p sub.

mf

p sub.



0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

                   

135

                                                                        

Vln. I

                                                         0 0

0 0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 0

p

mp

0

0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 0

0 0

p

mp

                                                                         Vln. II

                                                               0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0

0

mp

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

mp

p

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

0

0

0

0 0

0 0

0

p

                   0 0

Vla.

0

0 0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 0

p

mp

 Vc.  

0

 

0

0

0

 

0 0

0 0

p

mp

0

 

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 0

0 0

           pp


11

140

                                                                  

Vln. I

  

mp

                                                               p sub.

ff

f

                                                                 Vln. II

                    0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

mp

0

0

0

0

0

0













 ff

f

0

0

  

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

                            p sub.

0



mp

0

ff

f

mp

Vc.



                                                                  0

Vla.



p sub.

                         f

p sub.

ff

144

               

                                       6

Vln. I

 

 







 Vln. II

 

mp







6

6

6

6

6

                                     6

p

6

6

6

cresc.

6

poco

                                     0

Vla.

cresc.

poco

                                                

mp

              Vc.   mp

6

                                        p

mp

6

p

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

poco

cresc.

poco

cresc.

6



 

6

   

    

  



 

6

  

   







 



  

                            

p

6

6

6


12

147

   

 

6

Vln. I

 

 6

   Vln. II

Vc.



    

Vla.



 

 



    6



6

 

 

 





 



 



    6



 

 



6

 





 

   

 

6

 

 6

  

 

 





 

 

 



    6

 6

 

 

 







 

 



    6



 

 







 



 

 

 

6

  





 6

 

 

 





   

 

6

 



   

 

6

 

6

 

   

 

6



 6

ff



 

 



 

ff









 

ff

       

                                 6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

ff

150

                                                     

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

p sub.

pp

                                                     

                                                       0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

pp

p sub.

 

 Vc.  

Vla.

                                                       0

Vln. II

 

   

Vln. I

  

pizz.

    

pp

pizz.

   

pp


13

2. a2 + b2 = c2   Viola   

Grave, q = 42

p leggiero

Violoncello

    

pp (mp)

           

 p

3

  

 



 

n

A   

 





mp



 

p leggiero

  Vln. II  8

Vla.

 

  Vc. 

   

    

pp

p

  

 

3

n 3

B    

sul D | change bows as needed



mp leggiero

(mp)



    

  

3

 

   

  

(mp)

   

(mp)

  Vln. I  14

Vln. II

Vla.

   

  Vc. 

 

sul A | change bows as needed

3



n

(mp)

    

p (mp)

 

poco accel.

 



mp mf cresc.

mp



C

 

    

      

     

     

cresc.

 

  

 

 

    

cresc.

 



cresc.

 

 

 

    


D

20   Vln. I 

   

14

Più mosso, q = 50

f cresc.

     

Vln. II

f cresc.

 

Vla.

Vc.





      



     







 

w/ increased vibrato



ff cresc.



Vc.

 Vla.

 Vla.

ff cresc.

 

    

 

    

 

     

  



           p

5

poco

p



 

   

      







      fff

                 

f

poco

mf

   

fff

                          p 

Cadenza: Viola

ff broadly



 

fff

                          p

30

   

 



fff

3

3

ff broadly

 

rit.

  

    

3

Cadenza: Cello

29

3

ff cresc. w/ increased vibrato

 



  

   

w/ increased vibrato



ff cresc.

w/ increased vibrato

Vc.

    

 





 

f cresc.

24

Vla.

 

f cresc.

  

 Vln. I 

Vln. II



  f

    

w/ intense vib.

f

p

(ff)

            mf

p cresc.

rit.                                                                accel.


Vln. I

rit.

   31

Slowly, q = 40 - 50

 

Vln. II

 mp

 

Vln. II

mp

  

Vla.

mp



mp

  

p

3

 

 

 

p

pp

Vla.



 

mp tenderly

mp

pp

  

  

mp

pp

mf

        

poco

poco

poco

mp

poco

mp

poco 3

    



mf



poco

    

    

poco

poco

    

   

mp

mp

poco



  

  

pp

mp

pp

mp

  

pp

mp

  

  

  

  

   

   

 

no cresc. or dim.

pp

pp

poco

pp

poco

poco

  



 

     

  

 

mp

mf



   

  

mf

poco accel. poco rit.

      

      

pp

pp

    

p



 

Calm, q = 50

mp tenderly

  

   

(ff molto espress.

mp tenderly

   

poco accel. poco rit.

mf

mp tenderly

  

40

Vln. II

Vc.

F

p

  Vln. I 

ff molto espress.

f

 Vln. I 

Vc.

    

 

 

              Vc.    3 35

 

ff molto espress.

ff molto espress.

15

A tempo, q = 50

            mf 

       

Vla.

E

    pp

mf

mf

   mf


 Vln. I 

Cadenza: Violin 1

 

44

16

   

 

 

 

     

 

0

 

pp

   

Vla.

(f) dolce

   

Vln. II

 

  

 

 

pp Vc.

   

pp

G Più mosso,   Vln. I    45

q = 62

p

 

p

p

mf

  

mf

p













   

p

  

Vln. II

Vla.

mf

mf

p

p

 

p

mf

p

p

mf

   

p





   

 p

Vc.



49

Vln. I

mf

p

  



Vla.

Vc.

mf

  

Vln. II

  

0

p

mf

mf

   

 

     

p

   

p

mf

Largo, q = Dictated

pp sonore



pp sonore

pp sonore

 

mf

pp sonore

  



 



  

  

 

n

n

n

n


3. The Laws of Motion

17

   Violin I                                     Menacingly, q = 250

f con fuoco

Violin II

    

  

f con fuoco

Viola

    

 

  

f con fuoco

       

 

 

  

staccato

  

f con fuoco

     Violoncello   

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

  

       

staccato

  

   

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  Vln I  8

     

     

     

           

     

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Vc.  

  

  

  

  

  

Vln II

Vla

  Vln I  14

Vln II

Vla

A      

    

   Vc.  

 

  

    

     

p sub. cresc poco a poco.

     

     

     

     

       

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 



















p sub. cresc poco a poco.

 

 

 







p sub. cresc poco a poco.

p sub. cresc poco a poco.


  19

Vln I

      

Vla

                                                  

                                                   

Vln II

Vc.

18

 Vln I  27







     

     

     

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   





































      

Vla

Vln I

 

Vln I

cresc. poco a poco







  

 

     

     

     



















     

     

cresc. poco a poco

     

     









fp

fp





cresc. poco a poco





cresc. poco a poco









                                               (mf)

                                          (mf)                

Vla

35

Vln II

Vc.



                                                 fp

Vln II



                                                fp

Vc.



  43







     

     

     

     









     

     

     

(mf)







(mf)















B                               















          

f molto agitato

                                   f molto agitato

Vln II

      

Vla

Vc.







     

     

     



















     

f molto agitato

     

     

     













f molto agitato














19

                                              51

Vln I

                                              

Vln II

      

Vla

Vc.







      



     







                                                 

































59 C                                         Vln I         cresc. poco a poco

Vln II

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

                    cresc. poco a poco

fp

                                           

Vla

fp

cresc. poco a poco

Vc.

f

fp

 





 





 





 





 









 



più f molto espress.

simile 66                                                  Vln I    p

f

                                                      

Vln II

p

f

f

p

f

p

cresc. poco a poco

                                                     

Vla

Vc.

f



p

f

p

f



p





cresc. poco a poco









 D Vln II                                                        73

ff

                                             

Vla

ff

Vc.

                                            ff


20

                                                                                      81

Vln II

                                          

Vla

Vc.

                                         

 Vln I  88

E

      

Vla

  0

0

0

sfmf

            

Vln II

 0

    

sfmf

     sfmf

Vc.

 Vln I  95

Vla

                           0

0

0

0

0

                                                    

                                    cresc.

     

     

     

     

     

      

Vln II

Vc.

     

    cresc.

   

   

       

   

           

cresc.

 

   

mf

F                    101               Vln I  f driving

Vln II

            

     

           

     

f driving

Vla

Vc.

f driving

 f maestoso





                        




21

                                               

 

106

Vln I

Vln II

Vln I



Vla

Vc.



                                      p

  p                                     











p



 



G

 

114

   p sub.

                                               

                                    

Vln II

p sub.

                             

Vla

p sub.

Vc.

Vln I

 

122

 



 





f

       







H                         f vigoroso

                                

Vln II

f vigoroso

Vla

Vc.

                                

 



f vigoroso



p



                            f vigoroso

130                                                Vln I  fp

Vln II

                                              fp

Vla

                                                  fp

Vc.

                                              fp


22

                                           Vln I  138

                                            

Vln II

                                        

Vla

Vc.

                                                        molto staccato

I 146                                                  Vln I  p sub. cresc. poco a poco

cresc. molto

                                                

Vln II

cresc. molto

p sub. cresc. poco a poco

                                

Vla

cresc. molto

        Vc.     cresc. molto  154        Vln I 

p sub. cresc. poco a poco

                                        p sub. cresc. poco a poco











(mf)

                                          

Vln II

(mp)

Vla

(mf)

                                   

(mp)

fp cresc. molto







     J

f vigoroso

                

Vln II

 

(mf)

(mp)

              161            Vln I 

f vigoroso

fp cresc. molto





(mf)

















                   f  

                     

                                           

Vla

Vc.



                                           

(mp)

Vc.







fp cresc. molto

f

f vigoroso

fp cresc. molto



f



 



 





 





 

f
























23

                                               169

Vln I

Vln II

                                                  

                                             

Vla

                            K 177                           Vln I                        Vc.

                                               

Vln II

                                                

Vla

Vc.





































 





 





L 185                                            Vln I    

Vln II

 

Vla

 

Vc.

 

   



                                       

                                             













































193 M                  Vln I                               fp f p

f vigoroso

   

Vln II

 

                                             p f vigoroso f vigoroso fp

          

Vla

Vc.

  

f

 



fp









f vigoroso





 fp





   





    

 

   



f



f

   

f vigoroso

 



  

   p



p





   f vigoroso







 


  Vln I     201

  

mf cresc.

   

  

   

  

N

             fp f vigoroso

                                                 f 

Vla

mf cresc.

f

f vigoroso

mf cresc.

Vc.

f

                                              fp

Vln II

  

24

      

mf cresc.



   



 





  

f vigoroso

fp



                       



fp

f

         

O                                 Vln I   209

mf cresc.

f scherzando

                         mf cresc.

Vln II

mf cresc.

Vc.

   



mf cresc.

   

       

   

f scherzando

 

pizz.



 

  

f scherzando

                             

Vla

    



























        

f scherzando

       Vln I  215

 

Vln II

Vla

Vc.

 

         

    

    

       

 

    

    

   

    

           

 

   

   

 



                            

   






25

P  220              Vln I                                    

Vln II



  

p sub.

 

                                        p sub.

                                          

Vla

p sub.

Vc.

 



arco



                Vln I  227

cresc. poco a poco



 





f

p

                        

                                               

Vln II

cresc. poco a poco

              

Vla

              

cresc. poco a poco

Vc.



p











cresc. poco a poco

Q

                                         Vln I      f vigoroso f vigoroso f 235

                                              f vigoroso f vigoroso

Vln II

f

                                          f vigoroso

Vla

f vigoroso

Vc.

 

    

     

     

f

  f

                     


26

                                                  243

Vln I

                                                        

Vln II

                                                        

Vla

       R 251       Vln I         Vln II     Vc.

                                                                                                             

                    

                                               

Vla

Vc.

                   

     

            

      Vln I          Vln II           Vla   

            

            

            

            

            

            

       

  S                                f vigoroso ff energico                                      f vigoroso ff energico                                     ff energico f vigoroso                Vc.                                                                f vigoroso ff energico 266      Vln I                                              f vigoroso sfff     Vln II                                                     sfff f vigoroso  Vla                                                  f vigoroso sfff                Vc.                  f vigoroso 259

                    

sfff

   


27

4. Murphy's Law Directions Without planning, each performer play any pitch that he or she assumes the other will also play. If on the first sounding of the first pitch, all four play the exact same pitch in any octave, the movement is over and proceed to the next movement. However, if all do not play the exact same pitch, all must reach a certain "same" pitch in any octave by glissing to a unified pitch (performers cannot skip pitches while searching) to end the piece. Once all performers have reached a unified pitch, gradually fade out. The approximate duration of this movement should be no longer than 3 minutes.

If for what ever reason, the piece can't be completly performed, all has gone wrong! Stop performing and apologize to the audience for what has just happend.

Graphic Notation Note: This graphic represent only one of many possible outcomes.

Violin 1

 sfffp sfffp

Violin 2

sfffp

Viola

sfffp

Violoncello

 sfffp

1" - 3'

3"  

gliss.

                                       . s  s   gli          .  gliss     

.

iss

gl

   n


28

5. The Theory of Every-string   Violin I    

Molto Maestoso, h = 66



p

Violin II

   p

Viola

    p

Violoncello

     p









mf

p

mf

p

mf

  

 

p

mf



mf

  p



mf

  p



mf

  p

mf







  p



mf



p



mf



mf

p

mf















mf

p

mf

p

mf

p

mf

  Vln. I   



5

p

 

Vln. II

p

Vc.

p

 

 

mf

p

mf



 





p

mf

  p

mf

 





A



Più mosso, h = 70

p

mf

 

 



 

p

mf



  p



mf

p

mf

p

mf













mf

p

mf

p

mf

p

mf

mf

 

 

p



p



mf

mf

  

Vla.



0 0



p

 p

mf



mf

 



 



p

mf

p

mf

  Vln. I   11

pp

Vln. II

 pp

 

Vla.

pp

Vc.

pp



 mp



 mp



mp

mp

  

pp

  pp

 pp





 

 

p

 p

ppp



ppp

pp



 

pp

pp

G.P.

 





 





 





 



n

n

 n

ppp

p



pp

ppp

p

    

  

pp

 

n


B

29

Driven, q = 120

     Vln. I    18

 

         

fff

Vln. II

fff

     

Vla.

fff

    Vc.    fff   Vln. I  22

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

 Vln. I  26

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

       

Vla.

Vc.

pp leggiero

                                                                pp leggiero

    

        

 C





pp leggiero

 

 

pp leggiero

















    fpp

          fpp

              fpp

30              Vln. I 

Vln. II



















 mf







 pp







 

                                                                 

                                                                 

mf

mf

pp

pp

 

                                                                          mf

pp


          Vln. I   mf

    

(pp)



 



mf

Vln. II

Vla.



(pp)











Vla.



 d









d









d

    d

d



d







d









 p







    mf

d

p

d

    mf

d d

p

d

     mf

  



d

p

d

Vla.

   

47              Vln. I 

Vln. II



    

Vln. II

Vc.



p leggiero

sfz

mf

  

  

43           Vln. I 

Vc.



p leggiero

sfz

39              Vln. I 

                                           p leggiero (pp) mf

Vla.

Vc.



p leggiero

sfz

sfz

       

                                                                  (pp) mf

Vln. II

Vc.

30

D

35









 mf















d

        d

mf

d

                                                                d

mf

d

                                                                 mf


 Vln. I  51

Vln. II

Vla.













p



31











f

d

E  pp sub.

     p

f

d

  

f

d

  

p



 6



6

0 0

  0



  0

0





6

0 0

0

Vla.

0



6

0 0

0

0



  0

0

6

0



6

0 0



   0

0

6

0

0



 

  0

0

  

6

  





   0

0

0 0

0



   0

0



   0

0

6



 0

6

0



6

0 0

6

 



  

  



  

0 0



  



0



 6

0 0



0

0

6

0 0

  

 0

0

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

    

6

0

  







6

0

   

0



6

0

 





  

6

0





0

 

  

 

  

  

 

0

0



   0

0

0

6



 





   0

0

0

0

6



 





    0

0

0

0

6



 





   0

0

0

0

6



    0 0

 

 

 

0

0

6



    0 0



 



6

0

0



    0 0



 



0

6

    0 0



 



6

 

                         0

 

0

0



61

    0 0

6

0

0



    0 0



6

0

0



    0 0



6

0

0



    6



0

0



6

   



  

  

cresc.



  



  

cresc.



  

6

0 0



0

6

0 0



0

0

6

0 0

 

0

0

6

0 0



0

0



6

0 0



0

0

6

0 0



0

0

6

0 0

0 0



0

0

  

0 0



  

                                                   

Vla.

cresc.

Vc.

pp sub.



6

0 0

6

0

0

6

0 0

0

0



   Vln. I 

Vln. II



 

 

6

0 0

                        

Vln. II

 

6

6



6

0

f

                                       

58    Vln. I 

Vc.



6

Vc.

0

 

0 0

                                                                 

0

Vla.

0

 

6

0

55    Vln. I 

Vln. II

 

6

0 0

6

pp sub.

Vc.

 



6

0 0

pp sub. 0



6

                                                  p



                         0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

cresc.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0


 Vln. I  64

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.



 0

 



6

0

  

  



0

 

  

0



 

Vla.

Vc.

  

0

0

Vla.

 

Vln. II



  













0

0

  

0

0





6



 

  





0

 

6

0

  

0







6

0





f

0

F

6

f

  





0

   

f







0

0





0



0

0





0

















0

f





                0

0



0



6



 





 G







                                     

  



  



   

  

 

     









  

    

  

 



     







 

   



     

 



 

 

           



3

3



3

3

       

f



       

 





       

 





3 3 3     3                                                3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3

3

      

 

       

      

 

3







3

       



 

       





ff

H

      

3

       

      

 

                                                        p sub.

ff

                                                                      

Vla.

3

Vc.

   0

0

76              Vln. I 

Vln. II

 0

72     Vln. I 

Vc.

0

32



                 0

67              Vln. I 

Vln. II

6







6

0





3

  3

3

3

3

 3

3

3

   3

3

3

3

3

  3

3

ff

3

ff

3

p sub.

        p sub.

       


                             33

 Vln. I  81

p cresc. poco a poco

                                                                              

Vln. II

cresc. poco a poco

                                                                                                  

Vla.

cresc. poco a poco

Vc.

        

       

       

cresc. poco a poco

       

       

            I                                             Vln. I     86

 

f

                                                                             

Vln. II

pp

(f)

                                                                           

Vla.

Vc.

                       sul A

pp

Vc.

 



pp

    pp

95

pp

Vla.

Vc.

         





  



pp

ff





  



ff

                                                                         

   Vln. I  

Vln. II

(f)

           

pp

ff

Vla.

(f)

91    Vln. I  

Vln. II

  

ff

ff





ff

pp

pp

 

ff

ff



 







  



ff

pp

 

  pp

 

   pp

 



   ff

pp



   pp

  

    

  

ff

ff

ff

ff

d

d

d

   



 



 



                                                                              

 

pp

ff

pp

ff


34

  sul G    pp

   

   pp

 

 

 

  

   

  

 

 

                                                       

100

Vln. I

Vln. II

ff

pp

Vla.

ff

               

pp

Vc.

 

pp

104

 

Vc.

Vln. I

 

pp

    

(pp)

   

      

pp

       

 

ff instrusive

  

     

     



 

    

Vla.

 

sfz

    

   



 



     

      

ff instrusive





 

    

        

  

   



   

pp

 

         

                

             

     









ff instrusive

 

      

pp leggiero





pp

                         

116

Vln. II

sfz

pp leggiero

        

pp leggiero

sfz

            

          

         

                                                          

  Vln. I     

Vc.

pp leggiero

sfz pp leggiero

ff

pp leggiero

           

Vla.



                       

pp

110

Vln. II

Vc.

pp leggiero

        





J

Vla.

  

ff

                                                                

  

Vln. II

ff

pp

ff

  Vln. I   

pp

ff

 

 

ff

    

 


35

K                                                                       122

Vln. I

p cresc. poco a poco

 

Vln. II

 

Vla.

 

                  

        pp leggiero

Vc.

  Vln. I                

Vc.



Vla.

131

    

             

             

 

p cresc. poco a poco

       

    

 

   

                               p cresc. poco a poco

         

           

                          

               

                                                         

                   f cresc.

                  

f cresc.

   

              

             

  Vln. I   

Vln. II

        

 

Vla.

          

 

                                            pp leggiero  p cresc. poco a poco                                                   

127

Vln. II

 

                   

       

                                                 

      

             

                                                                

f cresc.

                                                                          Vc.                                                  f cresc.   135                                  L                                             Vln. I  f più

Vln. II

Vla.

          

                

         

                                   

 

      

      

          

f più

                                           f più

                                                                    Vc.                                               f più


 

140

Vln. I

Vla.



   

Vln. II

Vc.













36























cresc.

                                                                     cresc. 

                                            



















                               

cresc.





           mf cresc. poco a poco

                                                             

sfp cresc. poco a poco

Vla.



                                                             

145     Vln. I 

Vln. II



                                                  







sfp cresc. poco a poco

                                                                               Vc.                             sfp cresc. poco a poco  

149            Vln. I 

    

Vla.

              

                                  

  

 

                                                             

Vln. II

Vc.

  

   





       



 

 

 



 

               

                                                       

 Vln. I   153

    

    

  

 

     

     

                                                f

                                                             f

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

                 

 

        

                                       f

                                                     f


37

M

 Vln. I  156







6

ff





6





 

6





6

       





6





6

           

ff

Vla.

 6

            

Vln. II







 



159

ff











6



6





6



  



p sub.

6











0 0

p sub.

 

Vla.

  0 0

 0 0



6

0





6

  0



6

0

6

163

 

Vln. II

Vla.



      

     

    

p sub.

N







6 0

0

0

           

 Vln. I 

165



  

Vla.



       

3













                  



 

 

 

          





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3







 

3

f molto sonore





 

ff



 

  



   

f molto sonore







3

 

3

 

3

 

                                                            

   

Vln. II





                                                          

f molto sonore



p sub.

6



                                            

                 

  Vln. I 

Vc.

6

  0

6

0 0



0

                                                

Vln. II

Vc.



6 6                           

                                

6

                                                                                

 Vln. I 

Vc.



6

6

ff

Vc.



  

3

3

3

     

     

     

3



 

 

 

 



 

 



3

3


   166

Vln. I



        

38

                                                                                   

Vln. II

   

Vla.

   

 

   Vc.   

 

  Vln. I   167

  

     3

    0 0

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

   

168

3

 

   



 

f più

Vla.

   



 

 

  

 

 

 

3

3

 

 

 

 

3

  



 

 

 

  

fp

 

        

f più marcato et strepitoso

    Vc.   

 

 

3

 

 

 

f più

Vln. II

3

 

fp

3



3

 

 

fp

 

     

 

 

3

 

3



   

                                                                  

 

  Vln. I  

3

 



f più marcato et strepitoso



  

   

     

 

         



  

   

     

 

     

   

   



  



      

     

   

   





  



   

 

   

 

     









   

   

   

   

 

  









 

  









                        Vln. I                                       

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

170

                                                               

                                        6

6

6

6

6

6

                                                        


39

                 Vln. I                                                       172

sfz pp

                                                                                        sfz pp

Vln. II

                    

Vla.

6

Vc.

                      

6

 

6

6





6







6





6





6





                           sfz pp

6

                                                                 6

   Vln. I   175

6

       

       

6

6

        

        

6

6

6

sfz pp

6

O                             f con brio

                                               

Vln. II

6

























f con brio

          

Vla.

Vc.

        

        

        

                         f con brio

                                                                     f con brio

                  Vln. I      177

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.





















































































   

 

 





 

 

 



 









 













 









 













 









 













 









 


     179

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

 





 

  Vln. I   181

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.



 







 





  



   Vln. I     183



 





 













 



 







 





  









 





 













 



 







 





  









 



 















 

40





 



















  

   

 

 

   

 

 







 



 











 





   













 





 

















 









 







P

                            

 





 

















 















 

 





 





Vln. II

Vla.

   









 

 







 

 







 

 







 

    

         













 









 





    



















      

    

  

3

                            

ff with rage!

                                                   ff with rage!

Vc.

                            

ff with rage!

      

                                   ff with rage!

    


   186

Vln. I

41                                                                                               

                        

Vln. II

3

3

forcefully, molto marcato

sfz

ff

sfz

3

3

forcefully, molto marcato

sfz

ff

sfz

sfz

ff

sfz

                                                                                

                                                                                      

Vla.

Vc.

3

forcefully, molto marcato

   

               

                                             sfz

ff

forcefully, molto marcato

Q

                                                 Vln. I  190

mf cresc. poco a poco

     

Vln. II

   

  

                            

          

mf cresc. poco a poco

                                                                    

Vla.

sfz

                                 

 

 

 

mf cresc. poco a poco

Vc.

                                        

Vla.

Vc.

  

 

           

        

 

 

    

                           

Vla.

Vc.

          

 

 

   

                                                   

                            

 

  

 

    

         

 

  

  

   

 

    

          

              

 

  

  

 

 

 

        

 

 

 

                     

   

 

         

     

            

      

                           

             199                                         Vln. I 

Vln. II

                 

mf cresc. poco a poco

195     Vln. I 

Vln. II

  

   

 

         

              cresc. molto

     

 

    

cresc. molto

              cresc. molto

    

 

     

 

                                   cresc. molto


42

Vln. I

203     

 

 

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

   

 

   

  

               

   

                                fff

                               

  

fff

   

 

     

 

               

            

                                                            fff

                                                                             fff

  Vln. I 

210

Vln. II

sfffz

              sfffz

             

 

G.P.

R

    

 

   

 

    

   

    

 

    

 

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

fff molto vibrato

 

 

 

                

 



sfffz

Moderato Maestoso, h = 50

    

Vla.

Vc.

             

sfffz



fff molto vibrato

  fff molto vibrato  

0 0

fff molto vibrato

  Vln. I   

   

w/ less vibrato

  

    

w/ less vibrato

 

  

 

  

215

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

0 0





pp

 



  

 

pp

 

 

  

 

 



 

  









 

 







  

  

 



  







dim.

 dim. w/ less vibrato

dim. w/ less vibrato

dim.

rit.

pp

pp

n

n

n

n April 2006, March 2008 Honolulu, Hi.


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String Quartet No. 1 "String Theory" by Michael-Thomas Foumai - Issuu