Steve Reich - Triple Quartet

Psappha Ensemble Benedict Holland and Sophie Rosa - violins Heather Wallington - viola Jennifer Langridge - cello Triple Quartet is for three string quartets. In this version of the piece the live string quartet performs alongside the pre-recorded tape of quartets two and three. The piece is in three movements (fast-slow-fast) and is organized harmonically on four dominant chords in minor keys a minor third apart: E minor, G minor, B-flat minor, C-sharp minor, and then returning to E minor to form a cycle. The first movement goes through this harmonic cycle twice with a section about one minute long on each of the four dominant chords. The result is a kind of variation form. Rhythmically the first movement has the second and third quartet playing interlocking chords while the first quartet plays longer melodies in canon between the first violin and viola against the second violin and cello. The slow movement is more completely contrapuntal with a long slow melody in canon