almostdances (2022) for string quartet by Paul Novak

almostdances (2022) is a set of virtuosic etudes for string quartet in three continuous movements. Each brims with rhythm and motion, but they are askew—crooked, twisted, like a lopsided dance. Although each instrument’s part is quite individually virtuosic, for me these almostdances are studies in collective virtuosity: they musically foreground the attunement of performers to one another, and use a challenging musical language which requires a heightened level of artistic teamwork. The first is a furiously hocketed dance which begins to stutter on top of itself; the second is a chaotic textural swirl which dissolves into white light; and the third foregrounds the cellist in an expressive, shifting landscape. Full of light, color, and motion, these three miniatures are like tiny portals into another world.

almostdances for string quartet was written for the Quatuor Diotima as part of their 2021-22 residency at the University of Chicago.

Image: Pablo Picasso, "The Dance"

Contains tracks

• almostdances (2022) for string quartet: i. interlocking dance by Paul Novak
• almostdances (2022) for string quartet: ii. dance of motion by Paul Novak
• almostdances (2022) for string quartet: iii. singing dance by Paul Novak