Henry Cowell

Henry Cowell (1897-1965)

Nationality: American
Born: March 11, 1897, Menlo Park, CA Died: December 10, 1965, Shady, NY (age 68)
wikipedia | imslp | henrycowell.org

String Quartet No. 4, ("United Quartet")

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)
4:18 I. Allegro
1:58 II. Andante con moto
1:22 III. Andante
2:35 IV. Allegretto
2:46 V. Tempo di marcia
Duration: 13 minutes (approximately)
Composed: 1936 (age 38-39)
1 recording, 5 videos
autoopen autoplay
4:18
Beaux Arts String Quartet
I. Allegro
1:58
Beaux Arts String Quartet
II. Andante con moto
1:22
Beaux Arts String Quartet
III. Andante
2:35
Beaux Arts String Quartet
IV. Allegretto
2:46
Beaux Arts String Quartet
V. Tempo di marcia

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glossary

  • allegretto—moderately quick tempo. slower than allegro but faster than andante
  • allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
  • andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
  • 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
  • con [I,S]—with
  • marcia [I], alla marcia, marche [F], Marsch [G], march [E], marciale, marziale—march, in the manner of a march, e.g. duple meter at a moderate but deliberate pace in a manner which may be proud, grand, like a parade or a show of military bravado.
  • moto, con moto, di moto—motion, with motion. Somewhat more lively than its context would suggest, e.g. "andante con moto", a little more lively than andante
  • quartet, quatuor [F], quartett [G], quartetto [I], cuarteto [S]—ensemble or work for four players the most important examples being the string quartet and the piano quartet
  • 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.