Michael Nyman String Quartet No. 3 (1990)

Michael Nyman
String Quartet No. 3 (1990)
Balanescu Quartet
beginning
fig. D
Alexander Balanescu, violin I
Jonathan Carney, violin II
Kate Musker, viola
Anthony Hinnigan, cello
Painting: Lucian Freud, Boy Smoking, 1950-1951
String Quartet No. 3 (1990), commissioned by Alexander Balanescu, is based on Romanian folk music, along with material from his choral work Out of the Ruins, via a process Nyman describes as "translation." It affected much of Nyman's composition throughout the 1990s-riffs, in particular, a seven-note scalar ostinato, from it appear in À la folie, Carrington (in which it was used as a temp track and ultimately was transformed into a theme for Lytton Strachey), Practical Magic (not used in the finished film), The End of the Affair, and The Claim. The translation is not as simple as it may sound, as Pwyll ap Siôn notes, the first violin has new melodic material higher than the highest notes of the soprano melody, which is largely for the second violin. In addition, he elides caesuras and makes use of the stringed instruments' ability to sustain far longer than a human voice. Among the passages new to the string quartet are measures 17-24, 125-126, and a cello part beginning at measure 63.
Some cause of the variation is that the quartet is a celebration of the fall of Nicolae Ceauşescu, whereas Out of the Ruins is an expression of the hopelessness after an earthquake. Siôn describes numerous places where the accents and descriptors of the work indicate a very different feeling and approach to the music, with the quartet being much more aggravated, while the choral work reflects sorrow without indignation.
Like the first String Quartet, the piece is a reflection of Nyman's postgraduate work with Thurston Dart, who sent him to Romania in 1965 to gather folk music. The Romanian folk melodies that have been added to Out of the Ruins were all gathered on that trip
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_...

[@jeffwatkins352]

This is the piece that first introduced me to Nyman in its adapted form as used in the film Carrington. The moment I heard it, I was entranced as I've remained ever since with Nyman's remarkable genius. Wonderful performance here of music whose numinous aura haunts me now as it will to the end of my days.

[@paintingsandmusic2185]

Wonderful music!

[@rafaelmarra7930]

Such remembrances it brings to me...

[@josefvalicek1793]

Nádherné, je to zážitek z hudby. Děkuji Vám.

[@alessiagenesis5735]

Era il novembre 2016,io lo ricordo bene, ricordo tutto, UN FEDELE,Giangianni e Kiki di Man Ray...Il BALANESCU QUARTET,poi, l ho conosciuto qualche anno fa,per caso, in altre interpretazioni.
Lucian Freud uno dei miei preferiti per i ritratti.
Ma questo in particolare,oggi, all improvviso mi riporta una foto del grande poeta Ceslaw Miloz. La posa è molto simile,ma l inquietudine espressa da Freud è diversa dal vecchio lupo.
Qui c è tutto il disincanto,l amarezza,l impotenza, la débacle, la pietrificazione di chi non può.
SBARRE,solo sbarre .
Come si può notare,il mio sistema limbico prende il largo...

[@user-js-rusi-nyoro]

Very nice music
The sad tone of the violin can scoop my heart from below
This song was originally composed as an insert song for a documentary program that conveys the damage caused by the earthquake.
It seems that it was a chorus at that time, but I'd like to hear that one someday.

[@MrVektriol]

Thank you for this information.

[@miblish5168]

This is gorgeous, a masterpiece!

[@LeeMitchellAcoustic]

Beautiful....

[@roselinenyman5774]

So much gratitude for sharing Michael Nyman’s String Quartets. 💕

[@zsoltk07]

Thanks for sharing these quartets. Heard Balanescu Quartet playing Nyman back in 1992, still got the tape of this recording. It had a huge impact on me and the melodies are still haunting.

[@CassidaViridis]

Did not know this gem existed - what a find! Thanks Mr Vektriol.

[@alessiagenesis5735]

E all improvviso,al minuto 19,mi torna WIKIMUSIC,un programma radiofonico che amavo e che aveva come sigla proprio questa movimento.
L ho scoperto solo adesso,dopo anni che neppure più lo ascolto!

[@jesserayner6428]

There is nothing else better

[@rv706]

My higher cortex says "no", my limbic system says "mmh more"

[@MrVektriol]

The best definition of Nyman's music I've ever heard so far!

[@philo3838]

Stupid comment

[@alessiagenesis5735]

​@@MrVektriolvero,un commento da memorizzare.

[@davidjames9626]

Somethings like continual falling down..

[@dustincecil9640]

yes exactly

[@Donkusdelux]

nice song :)

[@Patomusica92]

09:59

[@Booboundersdad]

Not my thing, but I like this particular piece: melancholy but not sad.