DRIFTING CLOUDS
for String Quartet

by W. Brent Sawyer
composed 1/30/2022
approx. length: 6:45 minutes

I wanted to write something that was fairly simplistic and calm - In harmony, chords, textures and ideas. 

The beginning is just a rocking back and forth between an E flat major chord to a C major chord although neither are in root position. Above this chordal ostinato the Solo Violin soars on several different modes and has an interesting quintuplet rhythm against the accompaniment. In the second part the upper voices rock back and forth to mostly major triads above a pizzicato cello. The fourth section introduces a compound meter feel (triplets) and melodic fragments that is volleyed from part to part.  The fifth section has the upper strings on a glassy harmonic that mirrors the opening rocking chords. This time a Solo cello takes the melody in a high tessitura. The next section echos the second section but is transposed a third lower. The transition expires a rocking back and between the E flat major and E flat minor ostinato before settling in on a bookend of the opening with a ever so slightly extended ending.