Quintet for Strings (Perle)

The Quintet for Strings (1957–1958) is a composition for two violins, two viola, and one cello by George Perle, "in memory of Laura Slobe".

The piece is listed by Richard Swift as a tone-centered composition, rather than as a twelve-tone modal piece or 'freely' composed.^[1]

Structure and analysis

Structure

The work is structured in four movements:

1. Allegro
2. Scherzo
3. Adagio (Variations)
4. Allegro; Molto Adagio

Analysis

The first movement is based primarily upon octatonic and secondarily upon whole tone material, and centered on A♭ (with G and B above).^[2] The "sonata-like" first movement also presents material used throughout the work: "a descending scalar melodic line, sustained pedal tones, and melodic thirds."^[3] Of the third movement, a theme and four variations,^[4] Carl Sigmon writes that, "a declamatory cry dominates the movement – a cry so stark that it must be repeated; there is no answer but itself."^[3] Its tone center is G♯, but with A and C♯ above (a whole tone above G and B): "In this fashion, the incipient whole-tone element of the Quintet is embedded in the global tone-center relations."^[5] It contains a viola, cello, and violin cadenza in the second, third, and fourth variations, respectively.^[6]

It has been recorded on George Perle: A Retrospective (2006) Bridge 9214A/B.