This Sunday the Arnica Quartet will be performing on the Salem Camerata Musica series at the main branch of the Salem Public Library. The concert is at 2:30 in the afternoon, and is free to the public.
The big finish piece for the concert is Beethoven’s Op. 59 no. 1 – part of a set of three quartets that bear the moniker “Rasumovsky” after the Russian count to whom they were dedicated and from whom they were commissioned. Like it’s sibling, 59 no 2, the first quartet’s last movement is also designated as a Thème Russe. It’s in this movement that one of the trickiest string quartet passages occurs. Basically, the secondary theme of the movement is played in the viola and cello, with a rhythmic counter point – played by the two violins – which is syncopated (off the main beat) from what the lower strings are playing. Then, after four bars, the two groups switch to what they other group had previously played in the first four bars. Not too bad so far. Then, as the passage progresses, the syncopated part starts compressing until it nearly doubles in speed (or halves in duration), while the upper strings abruptly reverse their rhythmic pattern and hilarity ensues. Take a look:
