Vjerskih Rituala for String Quartet (2008-09)

During the Winter of 2008 I became increasingly interested in my family's Eastern European heritage (Yugoslavian, specifically) and how that might express itself in musical terms.   My initial research yielded many melodic and modal systems, as well as a rich and diverse rhythmic tradition with which to work.   While writing this quartet I became fascinated by stories of Balkan musicians singing and dancing in all-night ceremonies, warding off evil spirits and bringing good fortune for the coming year.   The piece is based on the melodic and rhythmic elements found in traditional Yugoslavian music.   Its non-stop pacing is meant to depict a raucous gathering of musicians around a large fire, dancing and singing under the night sky.   At dawn, after several hours of music making, they drop to the ground exhausted, as the sun rises peacefully on the horizon.

string quartet

32 pages, 8 1/2x11 booklet

Catalogue No. 06005