Donald Weilerstein of Cleveland Quartet interviewed by Nicholas Kitchen of Borromeo Quartet

Keys and Harmony Create Mood and Character

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  • Composers choose harmonies and keys to express certain emotions.
  • Beethoven uses E major to express ecstasy (eg.: Op 59#2, 2nd mvt., and 3rd variation of slow mvt. of Op. 127)
  • Harmonic progressions can tell a story.
  • Quartet players live daily in these harmonies and their intuitive reactions are insightful and valid.
  • Quartet interpretation should express these harmonies, as illuminating them to the audience communicates character and emotion.

Cellosophy

"What I have in my heart and soul must find a way out. That's the reason for music." -Ludwig van Beethoven