It's like Ravel brought up to date. Charming!

Wonderfully complex and evolving. √√√√

Written: 2018-19
Duration: ca. 25'
Commissioned by J.K. Billman
Premiere: Euclid Quartet, Arthur Zankel Music Center, June 25, 2019
Publisher: Bill Holab Music: http://www.billholabmusic.com
For more info.: https://robertpaterson.com/string-quartet-no-2

PROGRAM NOTES
In some ways, String Quartet No. 2 is similar to my String Quartet No. 1: the five movements are stylistically diverse, I use a few snippets of pre-existing music, and the music, while idiomatic, is technically demanding. As with my first quartet, this work explores technical and aesthetic ideas I didn’t have a chance to explore in other works.

The first movement, Colored Fields, is inspired by abstract expressionist painters such as Mark Rothko, Kenneth Noland, and Barnett Newman, but also pointillist painters such as Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. There are textures that emerge and submerge using articulations that gradually shift from soft to loud, or short to long, and there are a few transitions that utilize a technique I call pitch phasing or phase modulation, as opposed to tempo phasing. In these transitions, two or more instruments gradually modulate (raise or lower) notes, motives, or phrases by gradual, very refined, microtonal, non-chromatic increments, settling on new pitch areas that directly reflect the previous areas, just modulated up or town. The movement ends softly with a virtual desaturation of the rhythmic material. I remove notes, one by one, until there’s nothing left.

The second movement, Rigor Mortis, is inspired by a comic strip by David Lynch that newspapers ran for many years. In this strip, Lynch sketched a stressed-out, pitch-black dog, looking very mean and almost buzzing with anger; it looked like it was about to explode. Every strip began with an accompanying paragraph that read, “The dog who is so angry he cannot move. He cannot eat. He cannot sleep. He can just barely growl. Bound so tightly with tension and anger, he approaches the state of rigor mortis.” The movement ends with more furious barking: he is overcome by distilled tension, imploding inward with a final, loud, buzzing unison tremolo.

The third movement, Dolente, is sad, lush, and mournful. The only request I had when writing this quartet was to incorporate a Norwegian fiddle tune or theme by Edvard Grieg, so I chose themes from Grieg’s String Quartet No. 1. The form of this movement mimics the form of a song by Edvard Grieg’s entitled Spillemaend (Minstrels, or Fiddlers). The poem that Grieg set in 1876 as the first of Six Ibsen Songs (Op. 25) is based on the Norwegian folktale of the fossegrim, a male water spirit who could teach the art of violin-playing, but often at the price of personal happiness. In some versions of the story, the poor violinist drowns in the end. Like the song, and echoing the second movement, this movement beginning with the protagonist’s longing, his desire for the beloved. Next, he encounters the fossegrim, who promises that becoming a master of music will allow the protagonist to become master of his beloved. In the final stanza, the protagonist becomes a master fiddler, but he is now a cursed, wandering musician deprived of earthly love, so he drowns himself.

The humorous fourth movement, Scherzando, capitalizes on effects that at times, often make the string players sound inebriated. I make use of copious glissandi and tempos that fluctuate between 3/4 and 6/8, giving a sense of unease.

The final movement, Collage, is similar to the first movement in that it is inspired by the visual arts, and specifically, collage painting and works by surrealists. Many themes from the first four movements are brought together in this odd-metered movement.

String Quartet No. 2 commissioned by J. K. Billman and is written for and dedicated to the Euclid Quartet.

String Quartet No. 2

From our upcoming album, Megalopolis, due some time in 2024

The Endless Train

Fire Burst

" WONDER & MAGIC "

### The Rose and The Rope by Laxá

COVER ART BY FRASER CORMACK - Angry sky over Mosstodloch

In Ísafjörður, Iceland, Laxá's evocative piece "The Rose and The Rope" unfolds without words, instead conveying emotions through its music. With a blend of 80s reggae-influenced bass and post-rock guitars and strings, the composition creates a rich, immersive experience.

Bjarne Guðjohnsen's bass pulses with the deep, resonant groove reminiscent of 80s reggae, setting the stage for the journey. Matthias Helguson's drums join with a steady pace, their beats echoing through the fjord's stillness. Jussi Siglarson's guitar melodies soar and dive, embodying the post-rock essence with layers of emotion. Mike Taylor's keyboards add ethereal textures, blending with the ensemble's soundscape.

The Heima Kvartett—Lisbeth Heima (violin), Sif Árnadóttir (violin), Natasha Guðmundsdóttir (viola), and Ída Sigurðardóttir (cello)—enrich the piece with their strings. Lisbeth and Sif's violins intertwine like fragile rose vines, while Natasha's viola adds haunting undertones and Ída's cello provides depth and strength.

Together, the music represents the delicate balance between beauty and resilience, akin to the rose and rope symbolizing life's contrasts. The composition evolves, capturing Iceland's rugged beauty and emotional depth.

### The Origin of the Title

The title "The Rose and The Rope" has a poignant backstory. During a tour, Jussi Siglarson and Bjarne Guðjohnsen stayed in a remote village. Their host, an elderly woman, had a unique artifact hanging on her wall—a dried rose tied with a rugged rope. Intrigued, Jussi asked about its significance.

The woman recounted a tale from her youth. During a harsh winter, the village was cut off by snowstorms, and supplies were scarce. The young woman tended a rose bush through the winter, finding solace in its survival. Her future husband, determined to support the village, crafted a rope to brave the snow and gather provisions.

In spring, as the village emerged from the cold, the rose bloomed, symbolizing resilience. On their wedding day, the man gave the rose tied with the rope to the woman, representing their balance of beauty and strength.

Moved by this story, Laxá adopted "The Rose and The Rope" as the title, reflecting the harmonious blend of emotions and themes in their music. It symbolizes unity, strength, and beauty amidst adversity, encapsulating the essence of their composition.

Eldinsgill

The Rose And The Rope by Icelandic Postrock band  Laxá

Everlasting Love

Buy Youtube

When Noses Start to Bleed by Jeremias Langsämmer is a striking modern classical composition that merges the warmth of orchestration with a subtle electronic pulse. Anchored by a melodic synth line, the piece unfolds with layers of strings, cello, and piano, creating a moody, contemplative atmosphere. French horns lend a sense of gravitas, gradually intensifying the piece’s emotional pull. Midway, a playful interlude emerges with pizzicato violins, bringing a momentary lightness before the arrangement shifts back to its rich, layered soundscape, blending the acoustic and synthetic elements in a compelling and dramatic finish.

When Noses Start To Bleed by Jeremias Langsämmer [ Soundtrack | Classical]

Crumbs

Electric Boogie

Hedd Lone - Electric Boogie

Eddie Q - My Car.m4a

After several relationships and a failed marriage, it's not easy for me to find true love. How about you?

I put all my emotions into this song again! Please let me know what you think..

ALSO STREAM IT HERE -https://hypeddit.com/lectrom/istuttermylove

And enjoy the ⚡ FREE DOWNLOAD! ⚡
_______________

⚡Follow Lectrom⚡

SC: @lectrom

Spotify: spoti.fi/3J1sLcT

Socials: bit.ly/m/lectrom

I Stutter My Love [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Written: 2018-19
Duration: ca. 25'
Commissioned by J.K. Billman
Premiere: Euclid Quartet, Mostly Modern Festival, Arthur Zankel Music Center, June 25, 2019
Publisher: Bill Holab Music: http://www.billholabmusic.com
For more info.: https://robertpaterson.com/string-quartet-no-2

PROGRAM NOTES
In some ways, String Quartet No. 2 is similar to my String Quartet No. 1: the five movements are stylistically diverse, I use a few snippets of pre-existing music, and the music, while idiomatic, is technically demanding. As with my first quartet, this work explores technical and aesthetic ideas I didn’t have a chance to explore in other works.

The first movement, Colored Fields, is inspired by abstract expressionist painters such as Mark Rothko, Kenneth Noland, and Barnett Newman, but also pointillist painters such as Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. There are textures that emerge and submerge using articulations that gradually shift from soft to loud, or short to long, and there are a few transitions that utilize a technique I call pitch phasing or phase modulation, as opposed to tempo phasing. In these transitions, two or more instruments gradually modulate (raise or lower) notes, motives, or phrases by gradual, very refined, microtonal, non-chromatic increments, settling on new pitch areas that directly reflect the previous areas, just modulated up or town. The movement ends softly with a virtual desaturation of the rhythmic material. I remove notes, one by one, until there’s nothing left.

The second movement, Rigor Mortis, is inspired by a comic strip by David Lynch that newspapers ran for many years. In this strip, Lynch sketched a stressed-out, pitch-black dog, looking very mean and almost buzzing with anger; it looked like it was about to explode. Every strip began with an accompanying paragraph that read, “The dog who is so angry he cannot move. He cannot eat. He cannot sleep. He can just barely growl. Bound so tightly with tension and anger, he approaches the state of rigor mortis.” This made me envision musicians playing with such ferocity and tension that the music seems to eventually cancel itself out, anger imploding in on itself.

The third movement, Dolente, is sad, lush, and mournful. The only request I had when writing this quartet was to incorporate a Norwegian fiddle tune or theme by Edvard Grieg, so I chose themes from Grieg’s String Quartet No. 1. The form of this movement mimics the form of a song by Edvard Grieg’s entitled Spillemaend (Minstrels, or Fiddlers). The poem that Grieg set in 1876 as the first of Six Ibsen Songs (Op. 25) is based on the Norwegian folktale of the fossegrim, a male water spirit who could teach the art of violin-playing, but often at the price of personal happiness. In some versions of the story, the poor violinist drowns in the end. Like the song, and echoing the second movement, this movement beginning with the protagonist’s longing, his desire for the beloved. Next, he encounters the fossegrim, who promises that becoming a master of music will allow the protagonist to become master of his beloved. In the final stanza, the protagonist becomes a master fiddler, but he is now a cursed, wandering musician deprived of earthly love, so he drowns himself.

The humorous fourth movement, Scherzando, capitalizes on effects that at times, often make the string players sound inebriated. I make use of copious glissandi and tempos that fluctuate between 3/4 and 6/8, giving a sense of unease.

The final movement, Collage, is similar to the first movement in that it is inspired by the visual arts, and specifically, collage painting and works by surrealists. Many themes from the first four movements are brought together in this odd-metered movement.

String Quartet No. 2 commissioned by J. K. Billman and is written for and dedicated to the Euclid Quartet.

The Indianapolis Quartet: Robert Paterson - String Quartets 1-3

String Quartet No. 2 - V. Collage

String Quartet No. 2 - IV. Scherzando

String Quartet No. 2 - III. Dolente

String Quartet No. 2 - II. Rigor Mortis

Written: 2018-19
Duration: ca. 25'
Instrumentation: string quartet
Commissioned by J.K. Billman and written for and dedicated to the Euclid Quartet
Premiere: Euclid Quartet, Mostly Modern Festival, Skidmore College, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, June 25, 2019.
Publisher: Bill Holab Music

BUY SHEET MUSIC
http://www.billholabmusic.com

FOR MORE INFO. AND PROGRAM NOTES:
https://robertpaterson.com/string-quartet-no-2

String Quartet No. 2 - I. Colored Fields

American composer Robert Paterson is a true New Yorker—born and bred in Buffalo, he lived in Rochester and Ithaca for over ten years, in New York City for over twenty years, and now lives in Saratoga Springs, near the Adirondacks. Paterson’s colorful music embraces a wide variety of themes, everything from goddesses and online dating to mathematics and the environment. His music is filled with emotion and fierce rhythmic energy, marked by elegance, wit, and meticulous craftsmanship. Named Composer of The Year by the Classical Recording Foundation at Carnegie Hall, Paterson is the winner of the Alfred I. DuPont Award, and his opera Three Way won the Grammy® under Best Classical Producer of the Year. His music is often a Best of the Year pick on National Public Radio. His orchestral tone poem, Dark Mountains, regularly airs on NPR’s Performance Today. Three Way premiered with Nashville Opera, then BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), and across the United States. Minnesota Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, The Oratorio Society of New York, Buffalo Philharmonic, Albany Pro Musica, Albany Symphony, Musica Sacra, Austin Symphony, Vermont Symphony, and ensembles worldwide perform his works. Paterson gives masterclasses at the Curtis Institute of Music, New York University, the Aspen Music Festival, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and more. He is the Artistic Director and house composer for Mostly Modern Projects. Robert is a lifelong vegan and advocates for animals and the environment, celebrating the natural world with ground-breaking works such as his Triple Concerto, A New Eaarth, Listen, and I Go Among Trees.

String Quartet No. 2 - II. Rigor Mortis

Robert Paterson Composer

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