String Quartet No. 7 (Hill)
String Quartet No. 7 in A major, Stiles 1.2.3.3 SQ7,[1] by Australian composer Alfred Hill was commenced in Melbourne and finished in Sydney on 18 November 1934, as stated in the manuscript score preserved in the National Library of Australia.[2] It is thought to be the last of Hill's middle period quartets, with some impressionistic features being transitional to his later compositions.[3] Approximate duration is 20,5 minutes.
Structure
The quartet is in four movements.[4]
- I. Maestoso — Allegro moderato (A major)
- II. Intermezzo. Allegretto (E minor)
- III. Andante (C major)
- IV. Finale. Allegro (A major)
Analysis
In the first movement, the contrast between the first and second subjects is striking. A relatively brief (as usually in Hill's quartets) development section contains some interesting harmonic progressions. In the outer sections of the second movement pizzicato alternates with arco, contrasting with the wistful melody in the central section. In the Andante hints of impressionism first appear in Hill's quartet writing, though they are not so evident as in the Eighths quartet, composed later that year (1934). The Finale is characterised by eloquence rather than drama. At the end of it the opening bars of the first movement are cited, rounding the whole composition.[3]
Editions
- Alfred Hill. String Quartet No. 7 in A. London: Stiles Music Publications, 2002 (pub. number S35-2002; ISMN 979-0-720029-35-1)
Recordings
- (rec. 2008) Dominion String Quartet (Gezentsvey, Harris, Maurice, Chickering) – (2009) Naxos Records 8.572446.
References
- ^ Allan Stiles. A Catalogue of the Music of Alfred Hill
- ^ Library catalogue entry for the manuscript score
- ^ a b Donald Maurice. Booklet notes to Naxos 8.572446
- ^ Stiles Music Publications
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