String Quartet 1.5 - Experiments in Living

While the piece Signifying Riffs (1998) for percussion and strings gives a nod in that direction, String Quartet 1.5: Experiments in Living (2016) is composer George Lewis' first proper string quartet. The title Experiments in Living is borrowed from the writings of John Stuart Mill. Over the course of the 16-minute, one-movement work, performers are taken through a series of idiosyncratic episodes featuring extremes in gesture and extended playing techniques.

String Quartet 1.5: Experiments in Living was commissioned by the Fromm Foundation and premiered by the Spektral Quartet at the Harris Theater, Chicago in October 2016. This score and parts set is offered as part of the Peters Contemporary Chamber Series and includes detailed performance notes. Among other things, Chopsticks and Superball mallets are required for the percussive playing techniques.