Star Factory (2010) for string quartet
Mihailo Trandafilovski
Star Factory (2010) for string quartet Commissioned by FuseArts, for the South London Gallery Duration: ca.8 mins.
Performance Notes:
= quarter flat = quarter sharp = three quarter flat = three quarter sharp Accidentals apply to notes within bars until cancelled. Cautionary accidentals are used at times.
II = “choke” sound (stop bow suddenly, on the string, and keep it on until next note). Scratch = no pitch (or very little). Where a dynamic marking is preceded by poco, it should be understood as follows:
poco f is softer than f but louder than mf. Dynamics apply to all voices unless otherwise indicated (by text or additional dynamics).
The size of a written accent (>) indicates its intensity. Other articulation markings should be treated similarly throughout the piece. All tremolo (left and right hand) should be fast.
In general, whenever playing right-hand tremolo, this should be around the upper half/tip of the bow in soft dynamics, and around the middle of the bow when loud, which should result in intense/muscular right arm movement.
When playing finger and bow tremolo, these should not be coordinated.
Please note difference between left-hand finger tremolo only (slurs), and finger and bow tremolo (no slurs between notes, and dashed ties).
Star Factory dedicated to Helen Starr
Mihailo Trandafilovski
Violin I
q = c. 50
scratch
molto
1
scratch
(upper half of bow)
Violin II
1
p
molto
1
Violoncello l.v.
pizz.
(G string)
2)
ord.
(G string)
2)
1)
0
0
3) 0
sfz
sfz
sfz
sfz (f)
2)
sfz
0
sfz(f)
ord.
sfz 3
0
sfz (f)
sfz
0
fmf (G string)
sfz
sfz(f)
to ord. (gradually more pitch)
molto
ord.
0
to ord. (gradually more pitch) 1)
fmf
(upper half of bow)
1) fmf
scratch
Viola
to ord. (gradually more pitch)
(upper half of bow)
0
sfz
sfz
1) Non-simultaneous bow and left-hand finger tremolo. 2) Continue with tremolo. 3) Notes should sound simultaneously - use two fingers.
7
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
to scratch
mp
3
scratch
mp
mf
3) pizz. 4 3
l.v.
sfz (f)
3) pizz.
0 0
l.v.
3) Notes should sound simultaneously - use two fingers.
0
f
(both voices)
(A)
f senza vib.
arco ord.
1
sfz
0
1
4
mp
2
0
( )
f
(G)
non-simultaneous bow and left-hand finger tremolo.
0
mf
0
0
0
ord. ( )
mf
mf
0
to ord. (gradually more pitch)
(senza vib.)
poco a poco vib.
sfz
arco
(dim. lower voice only)
3)
sfz (f)
arco scratch
(A)
senza vib.
poco a poco vib. poco a poco cresc. mf ( )
f
4
to scratch 14 Vln. I
(pp)
Vln. II
(senza vib.) f
(left-hand finger tremolo)
1
pp (D string)
(non-simultaneous bow and left-hand finger tremolo)
(non-simultaneous bow and left-hand finger tremolo)
(non-simultaneous bow and left-hand finger tremolo)
(choke)
mf
(f)
to scratch
(left-hand finger tremolo)
pp (D string)
(pp)
(choke)
mf
(f)
1 1
to scratch
Vla.
(pp)
Vc.
(left-hand finger tremolo)
1
pp (G string)
(choke)
mf
sul pont.
(left-hand finger tremolo) ( )
(pp)
(f)
mp
sfz (f) p
(non-simultaneous bow and left-hand finger tremolo)
to ord.
20
Vln. I
scratch
sfz
sfz (f)
ord.
(dim. D string only)
(upper voice only)
0
sfz
0
f
(ord.)
scratch (sudden)
sul pont. (sudden)
sfz
sfz
sfz
f
(lower voice)
scratch
Vln. II
sfz (f)
Vla.
sfz (f)
to ord.
scratch
(senza vib.)
to ord.
(dim. G string only)
0
ord.
(0)
2
0
(0)
sfz
f
poco a poco cresc.
Vc.
sfz f
(pp)
0
scratch (sudden)
sul pont. (sudden)
(ord.)
f
sfz
D string
(senza vib.)
ord.
1
0
p
sfz
poco a poco vib.
sfz
sfz sul pont.
mf
5
poco a poco vib. ord.
25
Vln. I
Vln. II
(mf) poco a poco cresc.
Vla.
(DA )
( )
(vib.)
sfz
Vla.
poco sul pont. (sudden) sfz
sfz
(to ord.)
(senza vib.) (upper half of bow)
poco sul pont. 0 (upper half of bow)
1 pp
(pp)
(G) (0)
to ord.
to ord.
pp
(0)
0
ord.
pp
(D)
ord.
(mp)
(p)
Vc.
mf
0
0
(pp)
(upper voice only)
(mf)
ord. sfz
f sfz
scratch (poco)
( )
(G)
poco a poco dim.
mp
sfz
f
0
Vln. II
sul pont. (sudden)
poco sul pont.
to ord.
(D)
sfz f (mf)subito
30
Vln. I
sfz
scratch
1
0
ord. (D)
(p)
Vc.
0
scratch (sudden)
sfz poco f
f
(senza vib.) 0 0
1
(mp)
ord.
(G)
0
6
poco a poco vib.
senza vib.
37 Vln. I
Vln. II
to scratch scratch
to scratch scratch
Vla.
poco a poco cresc.
ord.
ord.
senza vib.
0
Vc.
Vln. I
poco a poco vib. mp
(mp)
( )
43
Vln. II
0
0
1
3
( )
0
4
(A)
Vla.
( )
Vc.
(vib.) 4
to sul pont.
(mf)
(senza vib.)
sfz f
sfz f
(A)
sfz
to sul pont.
(choke)
sfz
sfz ff
s.p. (A)
0
sfz ff sfz
s.p.
0
sfz
sul pont.
(A)
s.p. 0 0
to sul pont.
sfz f
1
(mf)
(vib.)
3
poco f
sfz
to sul pont.
(A)
sfz (ff)
(f)
poco a poco cresc.
(stopped)
(mf)
(mp)
0
4
sfz ff
sfz
7
49
Vln. I
0 0
( .
.
(continue with tremolo)
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
0
Vln. II
Vla.
( .
3
( .
.
(mf)
(mf)
sfz(p)
(mf)
sfz(p)
(mf)
sfz(p)
sfz (p)
sfz mf
the string! on (stopped)
on the string! (stopped)
sfz (p)
sfz (p)
sfz (p)
sfz mf
sfz mf
on the string! sfz mf
0
(A)
ord.
(D)
pp
(pp)
on the string!
0 0
(mf)
)
dim.
0 0
(mf)
.
(continue with tremolo)
(3)
(senza vib.)
dim.
sfz mp subito
ord. (senza vib.)
(D) ord.
pp
. )
(continue with tremolo)
( .
(pp)
dim.
sfz(p)
Vc.
)
sfz mpsubito
.
(continue with tremolo)
sfz mp subito
57
Vln. I
4
dim.
sfz mpsubito
. )
(scratch)
(ff)
(scratch)
(ff)
(1)
p
(1)
p
G string
to ord.
p
scratch
D string (ff)
to ord.
scratch
scratch
(scratch)
0 0
to ord.
scratch
(scratch)
(ff)
ord. (D)
(stopped)
p
to ord.
8
(G) mp 64
Vln. I
ord.
( )
ord.
Vln. II
mp
( )
(G)
( )
ord.
Vla.
mp
(upper voice) (D) (mp)
voice) (upper (mp) (D)
(G)
poco sul pont. ()
poco sul pont. ()
(mp)
poco sul pont. ()
(poco s.p.)
(poco s.p.)
( )
Vc.
mp
(D)
poco sul pont. ()
(lower voice) (mp)
(upper voice only)
71 Vln. I
(upper voice only)
Vln. II
(upper voice only)
Vla.
Vc.
ord. senza vib.
(sul D ppp
ord. senza vib.
ppp
)
pp
(poco s.p.) (G)
(C)
ppp
(lower voice only)
ppp
1
pp
(A)
pp
(DA
)
(GD)
poco a poco cresc.
0
(D)
pp
poco a poco vib.
0
poco a poco vib. (stopped)
ord. senza vib.
(poco s.p.)
poco a poco cresc.
0
pp
poco a poco cresc.
pp
poco a poco vib.
ord. senza vib.
(DA)
(lower voice)
ord.
(D)
poco a poco vib.
(GD)
poco a poco cresc.
pp
pp
(sul G)
9
Vln. I
poco a poco più espressivo poco a poco più marcato ( )
78
(p)
(mp)
(G)
Vln. II
(DA)
(p)
(A)
4 (stopped)
4
0
0
(D)
(mp)
() (GD)
Vla.
(p)
( )
0
(A)
0
1
(DA)
1
1
4
0
(mp)
0
(mf)
poco a poco più espressivo
poco a poco più marcato
(A)
0
(mf)
( )
4 (stopped)
poco a poco più espressivo
poco a poco più marcato
(D)
0
0
(mf)
0
(DA)
poco a poco più espressivo () (DA)
poco a poco più marcato ( )
Vc.
0
(p)
Vln. I
(DA)
4
( )
0
Vln. II
(stopped) 4
0
( )
(4)
4
0
Vc.
(4)
( )
( )
( )
(ff) ( )
4
1
0
1
(f) ( ) 0
(f)
( )
1
1
(f)
Vla.
0
(mf)
(ff)
1
(f)
0
(mp)
(4)
84
4
0
( )
( )
(ff)
(ff)
( )
( )
90 Vln. I
Vln. II
sfz (fff)
Vc.
(scratch)
(on the string)
(scratch)
sfz (fff)
(on the string)
sfz (fff)
Vla.
(scratch)
(on the string)
(on the string)
(molto energico) (ord.)
(molto energico) (ord.)
sfz (fff)
on the string! ( .
0 0
.
)
( ) (DA)
2) to
to
0 0
on the string! ( . 2)
0 0
1)
.
)
( ) (DA)
to
to
0 0
to
1)
on the string! ( . 2) 0
0
.
to
)
) (GD) (
to
0 0
(molto energico) (ord.)
to
sfz (fff)
10
to 1)
sfz (fff)
(scratch)
sfz (fff)
(molto energico) (ord.)
on the string!
0 0
( . 2)
. to
( ) 0 0
to 1)
sfz (fff)
)
to
(GD)
1) Gradually add open strings/finger tremolo. 2) Continue with tremolo. Keep fingers in same position, and gradually/continuously move bow across strings.
to scratch
sul pont.
(GD ) 96
Vln. I
sfz
sul pont.
(GD )
Vln. II
sfz
to scratch
Vla.
(CG
Vc.
(CG
sfz
)
sfz
)
(GD)
sfz ff
sul pont.
(GD) sfz ff
sul pont.
C
G
sfz ff
to scratch
sul pont.
to scratch
sul pont.
sul pont.
sfz ff
(CG)
poco sul pont.
(GD)
sfz poco ff
poco sul pont.
sfz poco ff
3) to
3) to
poco sul pont.
sfz poco ff
sul pont.
sfz poco ff
3) to
poco sul pont.
(CG)
3) to
3) Gradually change fingering/notes.
11
Vln. I
poco a poco calmando
to ord.
() 101
(
harmonics to stopped
(f)
poco a poco dim.
Vln. II
to
(
harmonics to stopped
(f)
(
4 1
1 1
p
4 1
harmonic to stopped
(
)
harmonics to stopped
4 1
1 1
p
4 1
1) pizz.
l.v.
mp
Vc.
(pp)
mp
l.v.
(pp)
mf
ord.
(stopped)
(pp)
mf
(sounding E&B) 3 1
3 1
l.v.
1) pizz.
mp
arco
(pp)
(pp) (sounding E&B) 3 1
3 1
l.v.
1) pizz.
arco
mp
(sounding D)
pp
(p)
(pp)
(pp)
arco (ord.)
0
poco
(pp) 1) pizz.
mf
(f)
(ord.)
Vla.
(f)
(ord.)
Vln. II
(pp)
ord.
)
poco a poco dim.
Vln. I
mf
poco a poco calmando
to ord. ()
108
ord.
)
poco a poco dim.
poco a poco calmando
to ord.
Vc.
poco a poco calmando
to ord. ()
poco a poco dim.
Vla.
ord.
)
0
(pp)
(p)
(GD)
1) All pizz. harmonics should ring as much as possible. Lift left finger soon after pizz. so that maximum resonance is achieved (especially when in first position). In double-stops, notes should sound simultaneously - use two right fingers when necessary.
(sounding F)
arco 114 Vln. I
p
pizz.
Vln. II
mp
pizz.
Vla.
Vc.
mp
arco (ord.)
C
pp
(no accent)
Vln. I
arco
(D)
pp
(A)
p
(E)
arco
(D)
( )
pp
p
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
sul pont.
(D)
ppp
(long)
(sounding F)
(poco p)
(G) arco
( )
( )
(poco p)
(poco)
( )
( )
(poco p)
(poco)
(pizz.)
128
(poco p)
(stopped)
pp
(A)
arco
( ) (G)
(D)
pizz.
( )
p
(no accent)
pizz.
p
pizz.
mp
pizz.
( )
Vc.
(D)
(no accent)
Vla.
( )
(no accent)
Vln. II
( )
p
120
Vln. I
Duration ca.8 mins.
12