Toccata
Length: 10:00
Instrumentation: string quartet
Year: 2024
Commissioned by Del Sol Quartet
To be premiered by Del Sol Quartet at Chamberfest in January 2025.
Recording forthcoming.
About the work:
I liked the idea of writing a toccata, a traditional baroque keyboard form, for a 21st century string quartet; paying homage to the form while repurposing the definition (which is already quite vague to begin with). I'm working off of Encyclopedia Britannica's definition, that defines toccata as "a musical form for keyboard written in a free style that is characterized by full chords, rapid runs, high harmonies, and other virtuoso elements designed to show off the performer's 'touch.'"
The last work I wrote for Del Sol ("Prelude") was slow, dark and moody, and lingering on chords in the way that we linger on heavy emotions. With this work, I wanted to write something fiery and virtuosic while still leaning into the emotional aspects that always seem to find a way to permeate my music.
