Three Sententiae for String Quartet Op. 139 (Old Deleted Piece 2/181)

This is the second installment of my pieces that were previously published here on Young Composers forum but got deleted during the renovation of the website in late April - early May 2016 and that I am choosing to publish again. As the pieces number 181, I am being cautious at to what I publish this second time. Concerning this set of sententiae, what distinguishes them is that they are the first set of sententiae I ever composed. Therein lies their importance. I think that of the six sets of sententiae for string quartet that I have composed, this is still the best set.

Here's how I introduced the pieces back on April 10, 2013 when I first posted theme here:

'Sententia' (plural: 'sententiae') is the Latin for the word 'sentence'. I am naming these pieces 'sentences' since they are pieces that do not manifest any trace of development, nor do they aim to do so. All they do is utter a statement, a sentence - which the Oxford dictionary defines as "A series of words complete in itself as the expression of a thought ... conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command." a definition which perfectly applies to these pieces. I chose the Latin word 'sententia' to name them because its meaning is broader than its English translation of 'sentence', defined as it is as "meaning, sentence, maxim, epigram" - the other three definitions also applying to some degree to the kind of piece that I have in mind, a piece that is more substantial than a simple, straightforward (and often inconsequential) sentence.

Of these three sententiae, my favourite is the second one, which is also the one that I think the most completely embodies my idea of a 'sententia' (the first one still somewhat utilizing the formulas of my soliloquies and bagatelles with its repeat and clear ending, while the third one shows a hint of development). I am posting them as a group since I believe that sententiae, being short and devoid of any development, are best presented in a group. Yet each sententia is complete in itself and in the musical idea/feeling/thought that it seeks to convey.

Here's the link to the first old deleted piece that I shared:

https://www.youngcomposers.com/t36633/three-fugatos-for-harpsichord-op-222-old-deleted-piece-1181/

Awesome Music, with personality. 🙂

17 hours ago, Ampnoe's said:

Awesome Music, with personality. 🙂

 

Thanks a lot Ampnoe. It's great to hear your feedback!

Now THAT's using the tools you have!

😄

Instead of writing super short notes:

Write staccatissimos:

1 hour ago, Rabbival507 said:

Now THAT's using the tools you have!

😄

Instead of writing super short notes:

Write staccatissimos:

 

Thanks Rabbival507 for your review and suggestion!

Your pieces have an interesting effect. They seem to be naive (sorry, it's not a bad word in this case) but, trust me, I have listened to them about 10 times. I appreciate this art in the simplicity. Particularly, the third one is beautiful for me.

Besides, I consider your whole work (at least the samples I have known), and it's solid.

6 hours ago, Luis Hernández said:

Your pieces have an interesting effect. They seem to be naive (sorry, it's not a bad word in this case) but, trust me, I have listened to them about 10 times. I appreciate this art in the simplicity. Particularly, the third one is beautiful for me.

Besides, I consider your whole work (at least the samples I have known), and it's solid.

 

Thanks Luis for your review and valuable feedback!