String Quartet No. 2 - I. Presto

Lauren Lofton

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String Quartet

2022

7 min.

Cello

Viola

Violin

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Program Notes: Lofton's original intent when writing String Quartet No. 2 was mainly to be an exemplary work to one of his students. For 2 months in 2022, Lofton spent a few nights weekly explaining how to write a string quartet. These four movements are the result of those nights. Movement 1: The first movement of a standard Sonata-Allegro form which features three macro sections: Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation. The Exposition (Measures 1-44): The Exposition usually has 2 micro-sections: Section A and Section B. Section A is usually in the home key, and section B is usually in the dominant key. The two themes are connected with a transition theme used to modulate keys. After theme B, the composer may choose to write a mini ending, which will then lead back into a repeat of the entire exposition. The Development (Measures 45-69): The Development Section takes a chunk or chunks from the exposition and messes around with them, usually by moving it to different keys or taking them apart and putting them back together again. This movement takes the transition theme and moves it into different keys. The Development section should end on a strong Dominant chord to help lead back into The Recapitulation. The Recapitulation (70 - 128): The Recapitulation is basically the exact same thing as the Exposition, but this time, instead of modulating to the dominant key for the B theme, sometimes the music stays in the home key. Additionally, some composers may add in surprises, such as in this case where the music suddenly modulates to D Major to prep for the key change (Measures 92-93). The Recapitulation ends with the official ending of the movement and, while optional, if the composer may choose, the section can be repeated back to the development section, as Lofton demonstrates here.