Chamber music for strings

Two modern works are contrasted with Brahms’ masterful Second String Quartet in this sublime morning of chamber music.

David Lang’s Wed is a bittersweet work originally composed for the Kronos Quartet, which oscillates between consonance and dissonance to create an equilibrium between tragedy and hope.

Caroline Shaw’s string quartet Plan and Elevation: The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks was written to commemorate the 75th anniversary of a historic estate in Washington, D.C. The title refers to two standard ways of representing architecture (‘plan’ referring to the bird’s eye view and ‘elevation’ the side view which features more ornamental detail). Each movement is based on a simple ground bass line which supports a different concept or character.

Brahms’ String Quintet No.2 is one of his later works, dating from 1890. Brahms’ unique language pervades the work, from playful rhythms to bittersweet melancholy, and back to Hungarian folk elements.

Program

David Lang Wed (arranged for string quartet)

Caroline Shaw Plan and Elevation: The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks

Brahms String Quintet No.2

Featuring

Matthew Tomkins violin

Freya Franzen violin

Jenny Khafagi viola / curator

Fiona Sargeant viola

Rachael Tobin cello