CAT# (YEAR COMPOSED): 64 (2002)
INSTRUMENTATION: string quartet
PAGES: 141
DURATION (APPROX): 45’
PUBLICATION: BABELSCORES®
PREMIERE BY: first movement by Kairos Quartet (Germany) on 4 April 2004, 18. Tage für Neue Musik Rottenburg (am Neckar) A Quattro! – Festival für Streichquartett Kulturverein Zehntscheuer E.V. Rottenburg am Neckar.
NOTE: The influence of nonlinear phenomena and the scaling of multidimensional phase space served as generating principles for musical composition in this First String Quartet.

REVIEWS
SÜDWESTPRESSE ROTTENBURGER POST, 6 APRIL 2004
„Korpereinsatz mit Sogwirkung“ (body movement with staying power)
“… Edgerton looked after performance practice and tradition of the string quartet, with only a few pauses were intricate figurations with new means of articulation reorganized – such as finely differentiated rules for bow angle and the intensity of the finger pressure. After the first movement I was curious to see how Edgerton applies the findings of his research when referencing Giacinto Scelsi (third movement) and Helmut Lachenmann (fifth Movement). ”

Michael Eidenbenz, RADIOMAGAZIN 25/2004 (SWIZERLAND, JUNE 2004)
“… Edgerton, in his 1 Stringquartet writes a complex music that one can either simply intuitively understand, or can parse out a deeper understanding from the composers’ instructions. … is a recent heir to a venerable tradition, in which the last word has not yet been spoken.”
(Michael Eidenbenz, translated by M. Edgerton)

Walter M. Grimmel, NEUE ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR MUSIK 3 – MAI/JUNI 2004
“… Edgerton’s Quartet #1 … virtuosic special effects and calculated dramaturgy.”
Werner M. Grimmel (translated by M. Edgerton)

Christoph Sramek, 4. SENDE(R)MUSIK; NEUE MUSIK IM MDR-STUDIO; LEIPZIG–MDR-STUDIO AM AUGUSTUSPLATZ; 11 MAY 2004
Michael Edgerton: Streichquartett Nr. 1,1. Satz (2002)
” … The many-layered nuanced colors of the string sound may possibly be associated with the diffusion of light through a prism, to awaken the impression of the existence of a larger string ensemble.”
Christoph Sramek (translated by M. Edgerton)

composed by Michael Edward Edgerton

#64. String Quartet #1-1st mmt_11m30 to end. Performed by the Kairos String Quartet

Michael Edgerton is an active composer with performances around the world. His compositions have received international prizes and recognition including the important German award, the Kompositionspreis der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart for his composition the Tempo Mental Rap, a series of six variations for guitar based upon a Steve Vai transcription of a Frank Zappa rap. Michael’s compositions utilize a broad range of musical influences such as European avant-garde, American experimentalism, progressive rock and world music. Since the mid-90s Michael’s compositions have been informed by scientific models and metaphors. Initially stemming from his studies with voice science and dynamical systems, he’s built a body of work that explores the integration of nonlinear concepts applied to sound production and compositional constraints. While the methods and systems he develops are often influenced by science, it is his intuition – his ear that gives birth to the music.

Michael is currently working as Professor of Artistic Research at Lund University/the Malmö Academy of Music in Sweden.

Popular tracks tagged #multidimensional scaling