An analysis of Krzysztof Penderecki's String Quartet No.3: "Leaves of an Unwritten Diary"

Abstract

Penderecki's String Quartet No. 3: Leaves from an Unwritten Diary was commissioned by the Shanghai Quartet in 2008 and premiered at a special 75th birthday concert honoring the composer. The quartet is a single movement work consisting of four to five short sections of contrasting tempos and character. Stylistically, the quartet is quite representative of his chamber works since the 1990's, and stands in sharp contrast to the first two quartets from the avant-garde period. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide an historical background, formal and linear analysis, and discussion ofthe challenges of interpreting this contemporary work, which has very little performance precedence.