Alfredo Casella (1883-1947)

Nationality: Italian

Born: July 25, 1883, Turin Died: March 5, 1947, Rome (age 63)

wikipedia | imslp

5 Pieces [Pezzi] for String Quartet, Op. 34

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Preludio. Allegro vivace e barbaro
		II.	Ninna-nanna. Tempo di Berceuse, Andantino dolcemente mosso
		III.	Valse ridicule. Tempo di valzer grazioso
		IV.	Notturno. Lento. Grave. Funebre
		V.	Fox-Trot. Tempo giusto

Composed: 1920 (age 36-37)

Published: 1921, Vienna: Universal Edition (age 37-38)

Dedication: Guido Maggiorino Gatti (1892–1973) (music critic)

Related Composers

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Teacher

Nationality: French

Born: May 12, 1845, Pamiers, Ariège Died: November 4, 1924, Paris (age 79)

glossary

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andantino—faster than andante, slower than allegretto. Sometimes andantino is interpreted as the opposite: slower than andante
barbaro [I]—savage, barbarous, fierce
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
dolce, dolcemente—sweet, gentle; sweetly, gently
e [It]—and
funebre [I], funereo, funèbre [F]—funereal, gloomy, sad; generally more grave than an elegy; often features a slow tempo march in the manner of "Pray for the dead . . ."
giusto—just, right, strict, exact, true
grave [I], gravement [F]—Solemn, serious, slow, ponderous
grazioso [I], con grazia, gratioso, graziös [G], Mit Grazie—graceful, gracefully; easy
lento, lent [F], lentement [F], avec lenteur [F]—slow (tempo)
mosso—moved, with motion, stirred, agitated
nocturne [F], notturno [I], nocturno, Nachtstück [G]—Night music. A romantic character piece depicting moods of the evening or night: quiet, reflective, perhaps romance and melancholy or even restlessness and fantasy. The most famous nocturnes come originally from the piano literature, e.g. John Field and Chopin, et. al.
opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
piece, pièce [F], stück [G], stücke [pl], pezzo [I], pezzi[pl]—a single-movement, self-sufficient musical work. Often used for short, individual works in a set or simply to indicate brevity without a titular suggestion of form or character.Chiefly contrasted with the term "movement", a piece which is an integral part of a larger whole without which it would be incomplete.
prelude, prélude, präludium [G], präludien [G, pl], praeludium, preludio—a movement preceding another almost by way of introduction: to let listeners and players acclimate, often to prepare for greater demands ahead
string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S]—an ensemble as well as music written for that ensemble comprising 2 violins, viola and cello. This is one of the essential genres / forms / ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical "core" of "classical" music.
Explore the string quartet.
tempo, tempi [pl]—speed or pace at which music progresses. Traditional classic music typically uses standard Italian words to designate the tempo, e.g. Allegro or adagio. Metronome markings provide precise numerical speeds. Tempo selection during performance is a complex artistic choice informed by composer's markings, performance tradition, technical limitations and interpretation.
vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro
waltz, valse, walzer, alla valse—a popular dance introduced in Vienna in the 1780s usually in 3/4 time. wiki