Darius Milhaud - String Quartet No. 2, Op. 16 (1915)

Darius Milhaud (4 September 1892 – 22 June 1974) was a French composer, conductor, and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and Brazilian music and make extensive use of polytonality. Milhaud is considered one of the key modernist composers.

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String Quartet No. 2, Op. 16 (1914-15)
Dedication: Léo Latil

1. Modérément animé, très animé (0:00)
2. Très lent (5:32)
3. Très vif (11:01)
4. Souple et sans hâte - Assez animé et gracieux (14:18)
5. Très rythmé (19:26)

Quatuor Parisii

Description by Joseph Stevenson
The opening movement, after its introductory section in moderate tempo, is a wild rhythmic outburst in 6/8 time. The main melody is stated by the cello with incessant sixteenth notes in the violin part. The music is powerful, and full of tension. The second movement is dirge-like, and again rises to a pitch of intensity as the texture turns fugal. It concludes with a calmer treatment of the opening theme.

The scherzo movement has a delightful accompaniment idea, a weaving of short flowing motives that passes in overlapping fashion from instrument to instrument, three at a time. Whichever instrument is not involved in this whirling pattern-work takes a broader, pastoral melody. A pizzicato passage makes a transition to a joyful trio section.

The fourth movement is a relaxed, sunny one, expressive of Milhaud's warm Provence homeland, full of fields and pastures.

The finale is stormy. It begins with rapid arpeggio patterns in the cello part, a harsh figure in the viola, and an dynamic melody in the second violin. This is interrupted by a slower middle section, where the cello has a heartfelt melody. The energy increases for a main concluding section. As a coda, Milhaud again slows the music down, releases the energy, and allows the music to relax into a concluding series of quiet harmonies. The quartet is dedicated to Léo Latil, a friend of Milhaud's.