Ta da da, e poco più

Ta da da, e poco più is a string quartet that lasts about nine minutes. The Italian title can be translated as “Ta da da, and a little more”, and refers to the fact that the entire piece revolves around a single motivic element of three rapid notes (“ta da da…”), which constitutes almost (“…and a little more”) the sole driving force of the musical discourse.

The structure of the piece is articulated around two contrasting poles. The first, presented at the opening, is built on fast repetitions of the “ta da da” motif; the second emerges from the same element, stretched into the slow antecedent of longer melodic phrases. Both poles are clearly profiled, almost like a sonata-derived opposition.

A secondary motivic element—introduced by the cello as early as the fourth bar and only intermittently active—provides the only significant deviation from the pervasive “ta da da”. This never develops into an independent thematic area, functioning instead as a contrasting figure.

Performed by Quatuor Diotima in Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York, May 9th, 2023.