Quartet : for flute, violin, cello and piano

Emma Lou Diemer

2013

Flute, violin, cello, piano

This light-hearted, one-movement work does not, or barely does, echo the romanticism of Howard Hanson's music, which is unsurpassed for its warm accessibility. The Quartet does, however, borrow motives from the first and third movements of his Symphony No. 2 and from the Maypole Dance from his opera "Merry Mount". The very opening of the Quartet makes use of the Lydian mode, one of Hanson's favorites, and later on the 3-chord motive of his 2nd symphony has a prominent role, and the dancing rhythm of his Maypole Dance makes two vigorous appearances in the Quartet. In the final year of her doctoral study the composer had the honor of being in one of Howard Hanson's last composition classes.