Duets and ensembles

PIANO QUINTET

A piano quintet, a string quartet with piano, by David Kenstad, this piece is written in 2 parts. Section I is marked Largo and Section II is marked Allegro Vivace. The Largo section is reflective, contemplative, but with hopeful optimism, and seems to be telling a story, which is passed along among the inner voices, 2nd violin and viola, as well. Section I. doesn’t quite end but rather leaves the listener hanging with a question. Section II, Allegro Vivace, then takes over with a lively development section filled with quartal harmonies and motifs, turning those of the 1st section upside down, transforming into a walking bass, and changing keys. ©2022 David Kenstad Compositions.

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Copyright ©2022 David Kenstad Compositions All Rights Reserved

July 2022

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Pages from Piano Quintet

string quartet no. 1

1st Movement, Energetically

A 4-part fugue introduces the theme which then is presented upside down and mirrored. Then viola and ‘cello push a hard driving jazz influenced accompaniment. The rhythms provide motion while the motifs are developed and morphed.

2nd Movement, Lento

An eerie, bluesy, plaintiff opening for this slow movement featuring the ‘cello, then a sweet melancholic ballad, these two contrasting personalities have a dialogue, both with a story to tell, both in an unresolved inner conflict.

3nd Movement, Waltz

A light brisk contrast to the slow 2nd movement, this jazz waltz dances by quickly, often 2 beats against 3, until, with an open pizzicato ‘cello C string followed by a C7 #9 chord played on false harmonics (shades of Jaco Pastorius?), it seems to pause, but that was an illusion. The beat never really stopped and the dance continues to the final step.

4th Movement, Presto

The 4th movement of David Kenstad’s String Quartet No.1 takes off where the 3rd movement ended, and we do mean “takes off”. It is a high energy piece that moves along very quickly, even frenetically, demanding great rhythmic skill from the performers, while maintaining excitement to the end.

Its 4 movements,

I. Energetically

II. Lento

III. Waltz

IV. Presto

…lead us on a trip through moods, modes, and motivic morphs influenced by an African-American Classical musical heritage as well as European classical traditions.

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Copyright ©2022 David Kenstad Compositions All Rights Reserved

String quartet no. 1

all four movements

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Duet for french horn and electric piano

I. Impromoptu – While the title implies something improvised, this duet for french horn and electric keyboard is written in the classical tradition and includes no improvisation, but it does have a jazz feel to it.

April, 2021

II. Blues – The second movement to his Duet for Dbl. Fr. Horn and Vintage Electric Piano of which the first movement is the Impromptu and the thrid movement is a lively jazz dance, also available on this channel. This Blues movement offers a sharp contrast to the Impromtu in mood but retains the 3-beat meter, this time in 9/8 time. Both the horn and keyboard artists must meet some formidable challenges for this one, but it pays off as an opportunity for some serious self expression.

April, 2021

III. Dance – The tempo is Vivace. You can’t sit still for this one.

Duet for french horn and electric piano

all 3 movements

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