Carter, Elliot. (1908–2012)
Second String Quartet - Autograph Musical Quotation on a Brochure
Autograph musical quotation from the important American composer, penned on the cover of a brochure about his compositions. Below a half-tone photograph of himself, Carter has penned a short quotation of two measures from the cello part to the opening of his String Quartet no. 2, signed and inscribed, and dated February 10, 1971. The brochure, issued by BMI, provides a biography of the composer as well as a list of recordings. Additions to the list and a list of Carter's degrees, in an unidentified hand, have been made in red ink on the last 3 pp., somewhat faded. Mounting remnants to two corners; otherwise in fine condition overall. 4 x 9 inches (10.2 x 23 cm) closed, opening to 16 x 9 inches.The Second String Quartet by American composer Elliott Carter was completed in 1959. It was commissioned by the Stanley String Quartet, and received its first performance in 1960 by the Juilliard String Quartet. The quartet is considerably influenced by the music of European avant-garde composers who were gaining celebrity at this time, particularly Pierre Boulez's Le marteau sans maître. This is a much more fragmentary piece than his earlier quartet (1951): the four instruments play very individual roles and unpredictably bounce off one another. Indeed, Carter instructs the players to sit as far apart as possible so that they appear to be playing different pieces simultaneously. (15837)
AMQS Classical Music