The score for David Matthews' String Quartet No.9
David Matthews’ 9th String Quartet premiered at the Hambacher Musikfest in 2001. The first movement is a short sonata form with the melody introduced by all instruments in turn before the second subject is played by the second violin. Following is the ‘Adagio’ which bearing the emotional gravitas of the whole work. A third movement tango is charged with infectious rhythmic energies. The finale of the 22-minute quartet is as compact as the opening movement, beginning with a brooding chromatic figure that then launches into an animated, folksy jig, before the piece ends in quiet exuberance.