In december 2019 I finished my 24 string quartets in 24 keys. The cycle is an hommage to Dmitri Shostakovich, who was on his way to do the same, but never got the chance to finish.
What is the purpose of writing in specific and even remote tonalities? Many non-keyboard instruments respond differently to tonalities and only allow certain instrumental acoustic effects in specific fingering positions, in specific keys. In most cases a composer takes into account those technical aspects of instruments, hence the specific use of C flat major enabling better sonority on the harp (all pedals up) or, for the same reason, the popularity of E minor or on the guitar (open strings, and easier fingering).
“String quartets in remote keys” verder lezen