Bagatelles

for string quartet and electronica Buy on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/del-sol-zofo-split-ep/id905966867 PROGRAM NOTES The short, ephemeral nature of a musical bagatelle appealed to me when imaging a collection of miniatures for the wonderful Del Sol string quartet. When paired with cutup electronic samples of the quartet itself, the bagatelle becomes an opportunity for brief, intense touchdowns on rhythmically diverse terrains. Lurching, lopsided figuration imbues "Rough Math," which is punctuated by samples of the musicians slapping their instruments. "Scrapyard Exotica" begins in a skittish, plectrum-based soundworld but evolves to a more sustained and lyrical space. The mellow charm of "Mating Dance" pairs the fist violin and viola in a swing-based melody, with the second violin and cello coupling up in the accompaniment. The title of the final movement, "Viscera," refers to fast-pulsing internal organs, as if the quartet were a many-legged creature on the run. Many t