(From the composer)
My thanks to the amazing Manhattan String Quartet for giving the world premiere of this work at the Chamber Music Society of Louisville this season. Some further notes from the performance will be forthcoming.
(earlier notes…)
The ‘Eternity’ Quartet can be regarded as a continuation of Bela Bartok’s remarkable compositional approach, and his own connection to the classical tradition of Beethoven, Brahms, etc combining dissonance with listenability in the modern age. Conceived for 5 movements, each presents a unique atmosphere that can stand alone in performance, from an energetic opening recalling Bartok #4, to the ethereal stillness of the closing movement, and always mindful of Ostling’s own previous effort.
The quartet was included on a program following Shostakovich's 10th and before Beethoven's famous Op. 135. From previous program notes by Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Weaver (for Ostling's first quartet, it) “stands the confrontation without apologies…Ostling has written a profound, moving veneration of Bartok…” (Dr. Weaver's complete program notes are available here.)
‘Eternity’ aims to continue this veneration on a new level entirely, heading into the music of our time.
