Output details

Michael Finnissy: Second & Third String Quartets

The two quartets recorded here grew out of the research agendas explored in the British Academy project from which the Quartet Choreography DVD (item 1) emerged. The recording of the Second Quartet is an unedited live performance given prior to the filmed version included in item 1. Both of these recordings of the Second Quartet provided core material for the Evolution and Collaboration project referenced below. The quartet’s preparatory work on the Third Quartet was the subject of an ethnographic study.

Finnissy was particularly interested in exploring relationships with earlier repertoires and both pieces present extended ‘possibility fields’ into which it is expected that the players project their experience of quartet playing and knowledge of repertoire. In the Second Quartet this includes an engagement with Classical performance practice and an active disposition of different types of instrumental responsibilities. In the Third Quartet very little dynamic shaping was provided and this was all worked out during the rehearsal process. In both pieces negotiating microtonal tunings was an important part of the quartet’s work. In the Second Quartet there is extended use of quarter-tone notation (as inflection), but in the Third Quartet this is handled by having the players frequently in different key signatures. Finding corporate intonation is thus in both cases a process of discovery.

Related output includes:

Bayley, A. (2011) Ethnographic research into contemporary string quartet rehearsal and performance. In: Ethnomusicology Forum 20/3, 385-411. DOI: 10.1080/17411912.2011.645626

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17411912.2011.645626?ai=2i4andui=g8nrandaf=H

Bayley, A. and Clarke, M. (2009) Analytical Representations of Creative Processes in Michael Finnissy's Second String Quartet. In: Journal of Interdisciplinary Music Studies 3/1-2, 139-157. ISSN: 1307-0401.

http://www.musicstudies.org/springFall2009.html

Amanda Bayley and Michael Clarke: Evolution and Collaboration, the composition, rehearsal and performance of Finnissy’s Second String Quartet [w. Kreutzer Quartet] (co-production, University of Huddersfield, CeReNeM, University of Wolverhampton, Higher Education Academy/Palatine, 2011)

http://www.musicstudies.org/JIMS2009/Bayley_JIMS_0932108.pdf

http://www.musicstudies.org/springFall2009.html