BORSA (string quartet)

BORSA (string quartet)

Lucian Moraru

Son Art Edition

www.sonartedition.com

by Robert van Gend

This is a Romanian folk suite with themes from Maramures region of Transylvania. The first theme is a slow call and response between the first violin and the viola while other parts sustain chords. The second theme picks up the tempo with a romping 6/8 tune and occasional 15/8 bars. The rhythmic energy steps up another notch when the music moves to 4/4 time in the third section. Violins and viola all get a turn at playing the melody. The cello has a humble but important rhythmic role throughout this work. Students who are competent playing 6th grade AMEB repertoire would find this quartet a great challenge.

There is a recording on Youtube of composer Lucian Moraru playing this work with his ensemble in a slightly different arrangement for string quartet, pan pipe and double bass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqVfNROduJI

The different themes give this piece plenty of interest and would make an attention-grabbing opening item in a concert program.

Stringendo (Australian Strings Association’s magazine) - April, 2022