composing for a string quartet

[snapcasezx3]

Hello,

I am composing for my first string quartet. Any tips that you have would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

 

[fraserhutch]

Study the greats who have come before you.

 

[gtr_guy26]

Follow the rules of theory and composition. Follow the natural chord progressions. Don't try to be to complex at first. keep your harmonies simple. and last just have fun with it.

 

[DavidK]

Write in the range of the instruments. Go to string players while you are writing and ask what is playable and what is not.

Avoid Keys with a lot of flats, we hate that.

Learn what bowings are and what they do, its very complicated. Also learn about strokes and articulations, we have a million.

Learn all the italian words and use them, dont use english.

Write in keys that use open strings.

Bowings are really a big part of it, that and the effects we can do.

As Fraser says, check out the great quartets of Beethoven, Brahms and especially Bartok.

Dont write too high for viola, that will suck

The biggest mistake is thinking like a pianist etc. You have to learn to think like a string player. We think about the line and the phrase, we have a linear way of thinking. We dont do chords well, avoid double stops and ESPECIALLY octaves.

We have a huge dynamic range, more than you can imagine.

Learn the following words, you will need them:

Staccato
Spiccato
Marcato
Martele
Colegno
Pizziccato
Sul Tasto
Au Talon
Jete
Con Sordino
Senza Sordino
subito
Rubato


Make sure you put in RESTS. We need a lil breather, we cant play constantly.

Know the difference between down bow and up bow, what they do and how to notate that.




You owe me 50 bucks for all this Good luck with the quartet.

 

[dgatwood]

Write in keys that use open strings.

A-frigging-men.

I would also add that in your voicing, remember that thirds and fourths work better in higher voices than lower voices, while fifths, sixths, and octaves work better down low. The farther down you are, the more awkward smaller intervals sound. Please do not make the string bass and cello run along in parallel thirds. We will have to hurt you.

For example:
CGEC, not CEGC

Admittedly, this is true for any instrument, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

(And as mentioned previously, please don't ask a single string player to play octaves unless you've fingered through it and are sure that what you are asking is practical.)

Oh, yeah. If you don't play at least one string instrument, spend a week at least learning a few of the basics. You don't have to play well, but it helps to be able to finger through something and realize that there's no way anyone's hand is that wide.