The quartet was premiered by Ensemble Calliopée in April 2022.
Listen to Rythmes Verticaux:
In music, rhythms are generally measured in beats per minute, and pitches are measured in beats per second (hertz). Therefore, rhythms and pitches are both musical descriptions of frequencies. “Rythmes Verticaux” for string quartet explores the relationship between rhythm and pitch as auditory perceptions of this physical phenomenon.
Throughout the piece, each performer acts independently. At times, one part speeds up while another slows down. This “counterpoint” in speeds creates rhythmical tension and “harmony”, which interact and blend with the tension and harmony of the pitches. The objective is for the music to feel three-dimensional: to exist in space, like a sculpture.