William Susman
String Quartet No. 6
Duration: 25'
Instrumentation details:
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
String Quartet No. 6
Sample pages
Work introduction
Isolation Songs is a song cycle without words for string quartet. It captures the horrific and frightening time at the beginning of the pandemic as well as the struggles and challenges of the following months.
A progression of emotions is expressed in the titles of the nine sections or “songs”: disorientation, isolation, grieving, racing thoughts, depression, solitude, disconnection, pressure cooker, get going.
The cycle is dedicated to the millions lost and forgotten in the panic.
The sections are grouped into three parts with a three second pause between each part.
Part 1
I. Disorientation
II. Anxiety
III. Grieving
IV. Racing Thoughts
Part 2
V. Depression
VI. Solitude
VII. Disconnection
Part 3
VIII. Pressure Cooker
IX. Get Going