Program Notes

"The piano quartet offers one of the richest genres to the composer's expression. It nearly parallels in dramatic purpose and importance the medium of the string quartet, and it offered me an opportunity to imbue a large canvas with bold musical designs, rich and varied harmonies, wide-ranging moods, and expressive contrasts—all amplified and expanded by a largely framed, narratively developed musical discourse. The first movement evolves from a passacaglia opening into large skyscraper-like sonorities, continuing with and elaborating upon the original passacaglia theme and structure. The second movement, in contrast, spins lyrically from a waltz theme, elegant and magical in mood, but all the while maintaining a serious attitude in its developmental working-out of the lighter and more lyrical waltz character. The third movement erupts into a jubilant pulsating rhythmic statement, cumulatively building from beginning to end, nearly relentless in its driving force but at the same time exalted in dramatic mood and foot-tapping pulse and developing its narrative in a quite ambitious architectonic layout and design of some 800 plus measures. The listener will easily recognize the traditional chamber-music aspects of this quartet and it is to the great Brahmsian tradition that this work specifically owes its spiritual homage and dedication."

—Willam Thomas McKinley (© 1988), from 15 Dec 1988 program.