String Quartet No. 2 — Étude d'un prélude X
2009
for string quartet
dedicated to my father, on his 65th birthday
duration: ca. 38 minutes
The twelve works in the Études d'un prélude series are all based on micromeasurements of timing and volume of Martha Argerich's recording of Chopin’s Prelude op. 28/4 in E minor, recorded in Munich on 22-25 October 1975 and released by Deutsche Grammophon as DG 2530 731, reissued as DG 415 836-2. The duration of Argerich’s original recording is 1'51".
I. Flutter echoes
II. The Real Thing
III. Kertèsz Distortion
IV. 28four
The first three movements of the quartet may be performed separately, as individual works. However, 28four may only be performed as the finale of the complete quartet. 28four, a sister of the piano work four28, is made entirely from the sounds of Argerich’s recording, reorganized according to duration.