Quartet on Themes by Howard Hanson

Quartet for Flute, Violin, Cello and Piano on Themes by Howard Hanson
By Emma Lou Diemer
Score and Parts

Duration: 10 minutes

This light-hearted, one-movement work does not, or barely does, echo the romanticism of Howard Handon’s music, which is unsurpasses for its warm accessibility.  The Quarted does, however, borrow motives from the first and third movements of his Symphony No. 2 and from the Maypose Dance form his opera “Merry Mount”.  The very opening of the Quartet makes use of the Lydian mode one of Hanson’s favorites, and later on the 3-chord motive of his 2nd symphony has a prominent role, and the dancing rhythm of his maypose Dance makes two vigorous appearances in the Quartet.  In the final year of her doctoral study, the composer had the honor of being in one of Howard Hanson’s last composition classes.