String Quartet No 2, Score and parts

After I had dedicated my first quartet (1983/84) to the memory of a friend and musician who died young, I had to mourn the death of yet another friend: Eduard Khagagortyan. To him, I dedicated my second quartet.In Armenia, the song It is spring? It is snowing?, written by the great composer of Armenian music Komitas (1869-1935), is very popular. It is characterized by an elegiac melody. When composing the quartet, I was influenced by some tones of the piano accompaniment. Furthermore, I was inspired by modulations from the treasury of songs of Armenian medieval sacred music. They are based on hymn-like poems and contain philosophical thoughts.With regard to the end of the quartet, I would like to paint a little picture: A churchyard. The day draws to a close. It gets dark. A group of clergymen dressed in black slowly crosses the churchyard and disappears into the dark at the back. In my imagination, this quiet and slow procession represents the transition from partial darkness to total blackness

CONTENIDO:

I Andante
II Larghetto
III Andante