Bobby Ge - Panes of Grisaille, for string quartet (JACK Quartet) [Score Follow]

Completed September 11, 2023
Premiered November 29, 2023 by JACK Quartet in Taplin Auditorium, Princeton University
The grisaille technique has always interested me for the challenges posed to its practitioners: the technique limits painters to monochromatic palettes. Beginning as underpainting for stained glass, grisaille eventually flourished as an entire form of its own in the 16th century. Today, art historians depict it as a singularly rigorous exercise that forced artists to more carefully consider their brushstrokes and composition in the absence of color.
Many of my teachers spoke similarly about writing for string quartet: a practice that forced artists to write with economy and intention within a limited color palette. This piece, Panes of Grisaille, is a study in timbre, seeking to pull as much depth and energy from its homogeneous instrumentation as possible. The music leans heavily into sounds and tunings that are only possible on strings, ricocheting through as many techniques as possible while barreling forward with incessant momentum.
I owe much thanks to the astounding musicians of JACK Quartet, to whom this piece is dedicated. I only dared write something so frankly demanding knowing it would be in their hands.

[@johnpcomposer]

Quite ingeniously written...I love the forward motion and the tonal shifts...quite inspiring.

[@DNS0875]

This is so unbelievably mesmerizing 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@DeflatingAtheism]

Beautiful. In the beginning I was reminded of Gubaidulina's "Stimmen… Verstummen”, but by the end I was convinced it was the final, drawn-out tonic chord of a triumphal Romantic masterwork.

[@bobbycge]

that's a really fun connection! i do love the way she treats major triads in that piece - super innovative, though i admit i wasn't particularly thinking of that piece as i wrote this one. glad the ending came off strong !

[@federicopiovano886]

Your Music is so Crazy... I LOVE IT !!!!!

[@popmushee]

Thrilling!

[@cerronecomposer]

based ge

[@bobbycge]

no u

[@cristiangomez9257]

What does m.s.p means?

[@bobbycge]

molto sul ponticello! basically means to push the bow very close to the bridge to get a very grainy, metallic sound full of upper partials. really, you could just say 'sul pont' or 's.p.' tho i usually like that sound to be more extreme

[@cristiangomez9257]

@@bobbycge Thank you a lot. c:
I love the piece a lot!!