Quartet #2, The Nautical (1991, rev. 1995)

Challenging; about 15 minutes total. Three character pieces. $20, including score, parts, and demo disk. Order here. Professional recording by the Ceruti Quartet available, $10 (includes quartets 1-3).

I. Pegleg (about 3:00) -  He’s the captain, but he's a buffoon and not generally taken seriously… the wooden leg is not quite long enough, and he stinks of grog.  There is no mutiny mostly because no one else wants the job, and so things stumble along, with the mind-numbing routine occasionally punctuated by the bellowing and posturing which he does to assure himself that he's still in command.

II. Adrift (about 6:40) - Becalmed, captured, quietly rather than violently, by the forces of nature.  Though an eerie silence generally prevails, from time to time the sea offers subtle hints that the sailors are not alone.  There are many moments of serene beauty that promote quiet introspection, and a few more ominous moments - perhaps the calm before the storm - that stir feelings of fear and dread. In this slow and atmospheric movement, the 2nd violin occasionally plays an unusual percussion instrument called a Waterphone, or, alternately, using a kitchen pot partially filled with water (cheaper, but less cool); the ‘cellist also occasionally plays a simple egg shaker (about $2.50).

III. Great White (about 4:55) - The dangers to this ship of fools are obvious now.  Seas are rough and it is not a good time to fall overboard.  The dorsal fins circling the ship make it clear that even if the crew survives, it will not be because the sea has any respect for their efforts or their captain's swagger.  The jagged 'cello ostinato and the strong up-down contour of many of the phrases could suggest a shark's fin above the water.