Larry Sitsky: Tetragrammaton (1986) - I

Abstract

"In 1986 I had sketched out two works, both left incomplete, and both notionally for violin and piano. The sound of the piano with a solo instrument was never a favourite with me, and one of these abandoned works eventually turned out to be a chamber work. What was originally in four movements finished up as twelve, and what was for violin and piano became music for flute, viola, cello and piano. The extended colour and development of the basic materials in the quartet seemed to answer my dissatisfaction with the original concept. However, when the idea of composing a special piece to honour Jan Sedivka's 70th birthday arose, I went back to the 1986 sketches. It seemed to me that, with some reworking, the original idea might be worth salvaging. The Tetragrammaton is like a compressed version of the quartet; it is by its very nature more intimate and introverted." -- Larry Sitsky