Aaron Alter
String Theory for String Quartet
Duration: 5'
Instrumentation details:
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
String Theory for String Quartet
Translation, reprints and more
Aaron Alter
String Theory for String Quartet
Available digitally
Type: Dirigierpartitur
Aaron Alter
Violine I (String Theory for String Quartet)
Available digitally
Type: Stimme
Aaron Alter
Violine II (String Theory for String Quartet)
Available digitally
Type: Stimme
Aaron Alter
Violoncello (String Theory for String Quartet)
Available digitally
Type: Stimme
Sample pages
Work introduction
String Theory starts out with a slow introduction, inspired by the music of John Coltrane, followed by a Coltrane-inspired theme with a virtuosic solo by the first violin. After the solo, some of the music from the slow introduction returns, followed by a fast finale to the finish line.
The title of the composition "String Theory" was inspired by the concert where it was performed by the Composers Concordance in New York, entitled "CompCord & Entertaining Science." All the works on the concert program had a scientific theme and the title "String Theory" was a way to use a scientific term and describe the piece at the same time.
String Theory was a National Finalist in the 2021-2022 American Prize in Chamber Music composition and was recorded on an award winning album by the ÉxQuartet entitled "New Music for String Quartet Vol.1" on the Phasma Music label (distributed by Naxos.) The audio recording from that album is below.