Vasks’ String Quartet No. 5 consists of two movements and focuses on the theme ‘presence and absence’. At the end of the second movement the music fades, resulting in a feeling of deep loss.
In 2019, Peteris Vasks completed his String Quartet No. 6, at the same time announcing that it would be his last quartet. This time the parting is put into perspective by a ‘retrospective’, a ‘departure’, and finally a ‘meeting’, namely with Beethoven. With that, Vasks quotes the well-known ‘Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenden an die Gottheit’.
To conclude, we will hear toccata II from String Quartet No. 4 by Vasks.
Peteris Vasks (1946) – String quartet No. 5 (2004)
- Being present…, 2. So distant… yet near
Spikeru String Quartet
CD: Wergo
Peteris Vasks (1946) – String quartet No. 6 (2019)
- Canto 1: Farewell (Andante con passione), 2. Looking back (Allegro appassionato), 3. Canto 2: Leaving (Andante cantabile), 4. Corale: Encounter (Adagio-Molto Adagio)
Arethusa Quartet
Recording from 23 August 2022, Plechelmus Basiliek, Oldenzaal, Stift Festival
Peteris Vasks (1946) – String quartet No. 4 (2000)
Toccata II
Spikeru String Quartet
CD: Wergo
