Diamond

Instrumentation: string quartet, (also string orchestra)

Year composed: 2009-10

Duration: 4.5'

More often than not, composition teachers have students write for solo piano for their first work. In my case, because of an opportunity presenting itself to my school—the United States Marine String Quartet agreeing to play student’s works—I started with writing for string quartet. Having made a recent change of study from music production to classical composition, I didn’t know the level of intimidation that awaited me. This was due to my lack of a musical background and my transfer into a new university where my peers, the most talented musicians I’d met up to that point, had spent years developing their craft. In addition, my low placement exam grades set me back to entry level theory classes which delayed my private lessons in composition. Despite these setbacks, I requested my academic advisor take me on as a composition student early so I could begin writing as soon as possible. He agreed and as a result I spent the next nine months writing what would become a 4 minute string quartet. 

The work marked a milestone for my growth and verified a craft I wanted to practice for the rest of my life. The quartet was premiered on April 14th, my birthday. For this, I named the piece after April’s birthstone, Diamond.