Vibrato 1 & Vibrato 2

Composer's Notes

Vibrato 1 and Vibrato 2 for string quartet and piano is commissioned by the Europäischen Wochen Passau.

The word vibrato in this composition reflects the oscillation of an action and reaction. In Vibrato 1 the five musicians swings "in the same beat" and in Vibrato 2 not "in the same beat".

Both string quartet parts of Vibrato 1 and Vibrato 2 are identical, only the piano part differs. In Vibrato 1, the piano part follows the rhythm and tempo of the string quartet. In Vibrato 2, there is a melody in the piano part that is played in four sections at its own tempo and rhythm, independently of the quartet. The first time the four sections are played in the order given. In the individual repetition, they can be played in an order decided by the pianist: the player decides when and how often he wants to play his phrases during the performance. The surprising sound moments that this creates are desirable here.

This creates a sound world of its own, which is consistently continued until the end of the piece - independently of the quartet. It is also possible for the pianist to continue playing one of the sections alone after the quartet has finished its part.

The string quartet parts are played in 5/4 time from beginning to end, creating an ostinato sound that develops and finally ends as a unison sound in diminuendo. The 5/4 time helps the performers to maintain tension without following the usual emphasis of a 4/4 time signature.

Between Vibrato 1 and Vibrato 2, it is dramaturgically helpful to play a solo piano piece in order to emphasize the different tension and energy between Vibrato 1 and 2. The joint music-making takes place in both piece. The freedom of the piano player in Vibrato 2 to decide for himself when to play and still play together with the string quartet gives the piece an unexpected level of sound and feeling. The quartet, on the other hand, continues to play without being influenced by the pianist's playing.

In Vibrato 1, the pianist could, for example, place a thick book on the pages to damp the strings of the part of the left hand. If the strings are muted without the book, the unison part should be mixed with the cello so that the sound of the cello is slightly stronger. The book must be removed before Vibrato 2.