Rhona Clarke [1958]
Pas de Quatre [2009, revised 2023]
Performed by the ConTempo Quartet
Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin, 6th April 2025
Pas de Quatre (String Quartet No 2) is a single movement piece lasting 8-9 minutes. It starts with a hovering octave unison but continues in a highly rhythmic fashion with much energetic interaction between the individual members of the quartet. The main material is based on a gapped scale played with an irregular pulse. A repeated note on the viola heralds the first aleatoric section where the three other instruments share short, repeated phrases, but use their own discretion as to where to come in and how many times to repeat. A similar process is used for the final section ending when the cello has the last word in the conversation.
Pas de Quatre was commissioned by the (then) RTÉ ConTempo Quartet and The Contemporary Music Centre funded by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealíon. It was first performed by the ConTempo Quartet at Solstice Arts Centre, Navan on 19th March 2009.
Read more about Rhona Clarke here: https://www.rhonaclarke.com/