String Quartet No. 1 (Ives)
Encyclopedia
String Quartet No. 1 is one of the most studied works by composer Charles Ives
. The piece is composed for the standard string quartet
of two violins, a viola, and a cello. There are four movements:
Movement I is fugal in form and is considered separate from the rest because of its difference in tone. This piece is also found as the third movement of Ives' Fourth Symphony
, arranged for full orchestra. Historians agree that the fugal subject is based on "Missionary hymn" and the fugal countersubject is based on "Coronation".
Movement II is in ABA form. The "A" section is said to be based on the hymn "Beulah Land", which is quite apparent if the tune is familiar to the listener. The B section is said to be based on "Shining Shore", which is also used as the B section in movements III and IV.
This use of the same theme or melody in several movements is an example of cyclic form. Cyclic form
is meant to unify the piece as a whole by using similar themes in several movements.
Movement III primary theme is said to be based on the hymn "Nettleton", and is a perfect example of how Ives changes hymns to make them his own and develop them in different ways. Ives took the "Nettleton" hymn and changed the ending so he could develop it throughout the A section. The B section, as mentioned above, is believed to be based on an inverted (or upside down) version of "Shining Shore".
Movement IV is one of Ives' first uses of polymeter: composing in 3/4 over 4/4 time. The main theme is said to be based on "Coronation" as well as "Stand up for Jesus". "Shining Shore" is said to connect the two hymns as a B section. The piece ends on a plagal cadence
(IV-I), reinforcing the piece's heavy use of hymns. (Hymns typically end on plagal cadences).
Sketches: Burkholder does a very good job of looking through Ives' sketches to verify the use of several of these hymns. Ives reportedly wrote the hymns in their entirety in the sketches and used bits and pieces to compose the actual string quartet.
J. Peter Burkholder (one of the leading Ives scholars) claims that the main themes of this piece are paraphrased from familiar Protestant hymns such as "Beulah Land
", "Shining Shore", "Missionary Hymn" and "Nettleton
" to name a few.
Charles Ives
Charles Edward Ives was an American modernist composer. He is one of the first American composers of international renown, though Ives' music was largely ignored during his life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Over time, Ives came to be regarded as an "American Original"...
. The piece is composed for the standard string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
of two violins, a viola, and a cello. There are four movements:
- I. Andante con moto
- II. Allegro
- III. Adagio cantabile
- IV. Allegro marziale
Movement I is fugal in form and is considered separate from the rest because of its difference in tone. This piece is also found as the third movement of Ives' Fourth Symphony
Symphony No. 4 (Ives)
The Symphony No. 4, S. 4 by Charles Ives was written between the years of 1910 and 1916. The symphony is notable for its multi-layered complexity - usually necessitating two conductors in performance - and for its over-sized orchestra...
, arranged for full orchestra. Historians agree that the fugal subject is based on "Missionary hymn" and the fugal countersubject is based on "Coronation".
Movement II is in ABA form. The "A" section is said to be based on the hymn "Beulah Land", which is quite apparent if the tune is familiar to the listener. The B section is said to be based on "Shining Shore", which is also used as the B section in movements III and IV.
This use of the same theme or melody in several movements is an example of cyclic form. Cyclic form
Cyclic form
Cyclic form is a technique of musical construction, involving multiple sections or movements, in which a theme, melody, or thematic material occurs in more than one movement as a unifying device. Sometimes a theme may occur at the beginning and end Cyclic form is a technique of musical...
is meant to unify the piece as a whole by using similar themes in several movements.
Movement III primary theme is said to be based on the hymn "Nettleton", and is a perfect example of how Ives changes hymns to make them his own and develop them in different ways. Ives took the "Nettleton" hymn and changed the ending so he could develop it throughout the A section. The B section, as mentioned above, is believed to be based on an inverted (or upside down) version of "Shining Shore".
Movement IV is one of Ives' first uses of polymeter: composing in 3/4 over 4/4 time. The main theme is said to be based on "Coronation" as well as "Stand up for Jesus". "Shining Shore" is said to connect the two hymns as a B section. The piece ends on a plagal cadence
Cadence (music)
In Western musical theory, a cadence is, "a melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of repose or resolution [finality or pause]." A harmonic cadence is a progression of two chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music...
(IV-I), reinforcing the piece's heavy use of hymns. (Hymns typically end on plagal cadences).
Sketches: Burkholder does a very good job of looking through Ives' sketches to verify the use of several of these hymns. Ives reportedly wrote the hymns in their entirety in the sketches and used bits and pieces to compose the actual string quartet.
J. Peter Burkholder (one of the leading Ives scholars) claims that the main themes of this piece are paraphrased from familiar Protestant hymns such as "Beulah Land
Beulah Land
Beulah Land is a well-known gospel hymn written by Edgar Page Stites in either 1875 or 1876. The hymn, Stites' most popular, is set to music written by John R. Sweney...
", "Shining Shore", "Missionary Hymn" and "Nettleton
Nettleton
Nettleton may refer to:People* Asahel Nettleton , an American theologian and pastor, an evangelist in the Second Great Awakening* John Nettleton, various people...
" to name a few.