String quartet “9 Miniatures” No. 2
Op.33
By Dr. Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
د.محمد عبدالوهاب عبدالفتاح
Premier in
· Ahmed Famy, Violin I
(He is now member of well know WAMA band)
· Islam Nour, violin II
· Rasha Yehya, Viola
· Hassan Mo’ataz, Cello
This composition is written in suite form consists of 9 miniatures movements:
- Gens-Maqam Higaz
- Maqamic polyphony
- Trill-Tremolo
- Chromatic
- Rhythm
- Taqasim, (means instrumental improvisations)
- Pizzicato
- Glissando
- Harmony and melody
The nine movements are very brief impressions; each of one of them has a different musical idea. The composer added several graphic symbols and new notational signs to his score to designate the methods of Arabic music articulations such as: bowing, pizzicato, and glissando. Movements I, III, IV, VI and VIII are written in a creative music notation. New means of producing sound and technique aim at sarcastic and witty effects, which are composed from incomplete gens-tetra chords of Arabic “Maqamat “. The notation of movement # 6 “taqasim”is written in a just skeleton with time signature. The musicians should improvise some free melodic details form this skeleton.
The music of this composition is formed in a context that combines the Egyptian character and post-modern style.
This work is considered the first Egyptian composition includes graphic notation.(score) (Copyright)
