This is a piece that was performed by a group of friends (Renee Pyne, violin I; Nicole Durham, violin II; Jacob Crosby, viola; and Ben Osterhouse, cello) on my Senior Recital.
Though this movement, Vivace, is a compendium of the various techniques employed throughout the quartet, its primary purpose is to lighten the mood of the work as a whole. The Vivace is a fun and playful song; it is neither deep nor philosophical. This part of the quartet is extremely lighthearted with the strings acting as a melodic rhythm section rather than a chorus.
The influences here are from three sources: western art music, Afro-Cuban tradition, and American jazz. The harmonies are all tonal, but the voice leading is eclectic, incorporating functional harmony, parallelism, and twentieth-century tonality to create a unique harmonic motion. Traditional rhythms give the piece Afro-Cuban flair. However, hemiolas and frequent duplets evolve the music beyond a traditional feel.
I. Allegro
http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/575993
II. Largo-molto
http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/575994
Please contact me if you would like to use this in a project. We can discuss the details.