Quartet – III. Scherzo—Vivace. Trio–Nel tempo di un valzer buffo

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The third movement of my string quartet. The Scherzo is a lively contrapuntal flurry in 9/8 meter, with a harmonically restless middle section. The Trio is at first shockingly different in character—a fundamentally unserious waltz in 6/8. But only the violins and the viola are playing. The second phrase is played by the solo cello starting on a somber f# minor chord. The subtle motivic relation to the Scherzo is emphasised. The Scherzo is repeated in full as customary.