Printemps

In April, 2004, I was asked to conduct a string concert at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, FL. Because the concert was to be held in the springtime, and because we needed something a little upbeat to offset Shostakovich’s sobering 8th quartet, I decided to compose Printemps. Since then, L’hiver has been added, with hopes that eventually a Saisons may be completed.

The music:

As mentioned above, the music is upbeat, carrying with it the sense that it is a playful time, with harbingers of sunny days and awakening life to come. This is especially true in the middle section, where bold harmonies and rising phrases can only portray a sense of optimism and rebirth.

The String Quartet version was commissioned and performed by Musicians-Out-of-the-Box in Sarasota, FL., and premiered on March 5, 2006.

Jim Stephenson, 2006