Die Streichstücke

This work marks a return to chamber music writing after an extended period devoted to large commissions and symphonic projects. The composer approached the three movements as a deep personal confession, exploring the historical tradition of string quartets as vehicles for intimate and often ambiguous musical thought. The second movement incorporates an unavoidable Shostakovich quotation, a choice the composer acknowledges parallels Shostakovich's own practice in his 15th Symphony. The premiere process proved complex, with recordings of the three movements gathered from different ensembles over approximately one year to complete the full work.