I. Andante grazioso
II. Allegretto con brio
III. Come un pendolo
IV. Allegretto energetico
Poèmes is a four-movement work for string quartet that draws its inspiration from the expressive range and fluid structure of lyric poetry. Each movement functions as a distinct “poem,” capturing a particular mood or gesture, while together they form a unified cycle that explores nuance, contrast, and transformation through sound. The first movement is introspective and hushed, unfolding in delicate phrases that hover just above silence. Within this restrained atmosphere, brief flashes of intensity emerge—fleeting moments that disrupt the stillness before dissolving back into quiet. The second movement offers a stark contrast: rhythmic, dance-like, and buoyant. Playful syncopations and interlocking textures give it a propulsive quality, as if the instruments are constantly teasing one another in motion. Marked “Come un pendolo,” the third movement stretches time and space. Built on long durations and extreme register shifts, its slow, swaying gestures evoke the hypnotic arc of a swinging pendulum. While sparse and open, it maintains an undercurrent of quiet tension—poised between stasis and motion. The final movement, a spirited rondo, bursts forth with vitality and wit. Its recurring theme darts in and out of focus, punctuated by lively episodes that showcase the quartet’s agility and expressive range. Together, the four movements of Poèmes invite the listener to experience a spectrum of emotional and sonic textures—sometimes restrained, sometimes exuberant, always searching. Like poetry, the music relies on suggestion as much as statement, allowing silence, surprise, and resonance to shape its meaning.
