Rhythm:

Stravinsky: Three Pieces for String Quartet (First section)

This is music that is driven forward almost by rhythm alone in a very systematic, almost
mathematical kind of way – but the result is raw and earthy in the mood it creates.

- There is no changing harmony at all: the cello keeps on repeating the same three
notes (E flat, D flat, C), the viola has just one note (D), the second violin always
has a descending C# scale (starting on F#) and the first violin has a melody in G –
its like having three different keys going simultaneously.

- Each of the four instruments has an idea of its own which is just repeated but,
because they are all different lengths, they never come together at the same
time.

- The violin melody is 23 beats long

- The viola and cello accompaniment is 7 beats long

- The second violin has a very odd and complicated sequence.

- You’d have to repeat the sequence many dozens of times before we arrive back
at the original starting point.

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