4 Unrelated String Quartets

Hello Young Composers, 

I have finished a project of 4 string quartets, with the goal of getting 4 distinct textures and vibes, 2 slow and 2 fast.

1. Is a broad but brisk quartal and quintal harmonic piece. For nearly the whole piece, it avoids thirds and 6ths, and uses many 4ths, 5ths, and 9ths.
2. is the slowest of the four, and uses double stops for most of the piece, creating a thicker texture.
3. is the fastest of the four, with an emphasis on syncopation and skedaddling melodies. 
4. is best described as fight between quartal and triatic harmony 

Hopefully you enjoy the varied of textures I'm offering. As always I am very open to feedback and criticism, because how else will I get better?

So I listen to the first movement and a bit of the third movement but focusing on the first movement, I found that it sounded very interesting and sort of like 20th century stuff. It definitely has a unique sound the third Quartet sounds nice and is lively and also it being in a major key at points. 
 

I do feel like that all four quartets should be packaged as one piece, but that’s my take on it. You could keep them separate, but I think that each movement would contrast nicely with each other.

also, I couldn’t look at the scores for the first and third movement because it just showed up as a blank Google doc

1 hour ago, Fruit hunter said:

also, I couldn’t look at the scores for the first and third movement because it just showed up as a blank Google doc

It works fine for me.  Sometimes there's an error and the doc doesn't show but usually if you try again it will load.  Thanks for your review!

21 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

It works fine for me.  Sometimes there's an error and the doc doesn't show but usually if you try again it will load.  Thanks for your review!

 

Now it works
 

The thing that strikes me most - is the warmth of the music.  It reminds a bit of Aaron Copland (Our Town) and Samuel Barber (Summer of 1915).

Mark

Hi @Some Guy That writes Music,

Because I myself try something quartal and quintal in my String Sextet, I like your 1st SQ with the same reason! It sounds very refreshing and I love those textural change.  For the 2nd one, I always love the viola singing mellowly. The cello in b.10 is lovely too, tho you should use tenor clef there to avoid the ledger lines. For me this one sounds a lot like new music, or even with hints of the slow mov of Bee’s op. 132, calm and contemplative. I really love the 3rd one! Very energetic and Ali love those rhythms and articulations! Also, a nice and funny modulation to F sharp major haha! Tho I think you can stay longer there before going to F sharp minor. The 4th movement is again contemplative and echoing elements from the 1st and 2nd movements. Tho this one is warmer because it invites trivial sonority.

For me I definitely agree with @Fruit hunter, they sound like one piece with 4 movements, with common usage of quartal and quintal elements full of American colour. Thx for sharing!

Henry