Literary notes about quartet (AI summary)
The term “quartet” in literature has been employed with a rich variety of meanings, often extending beyond its literal musical connotation to evoke images of finely balanced groups or ensembles. In some works, it clearly represents a musical set-up—as in discussions of the string quartet’s varied arrangements or the blending of multiple instruments to achieve a distinctive tone quality [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]—while in other texts it signifies a grouping of individuals or elements that collectively create a dynamic unit, such as a quartet of soldiers [7] or even a foursome, as noted in poetic usage [8]. Additionally, the term stretches into the realm of performance, appearing in stage settings like the Tsar’s Bride, where it helps structure the drama’s musical interludes [9, 10]. Even in more narrative contexts, quartet can carry a personal or metaphorical significance, lending a sense of intimacy or exclusiveness to a character's experience [11, 12].
- The large number of violins prevents the wood-wind predominating, and the tone quality remains that of the string quartet, enriched and amplified.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - I dwell on the subject here in order to show how the usual composition of the string quartet may be altered.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Two solo instruments can be coupled together, e.g. 2 Violins soli , etc. and in very rare cases a quartet of solo strings may be employed.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Speaking generally, the harp, like the string quartet, pizzicato , is more an instrument of colour than expression.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Apart from the complete or partial doubling of the string quartet (two methods frequently used), the general and most natural arrangement is: Fl. Ob.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Solo quartet: The Christmas Night 222 —Vn., Viola, 'Cello, D. bass.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - A quartet of them, soldiers of the ninetyseventh infantry regiment, sat at the foot of the cross and tossed up dice for the overcoat of the crucified.
— from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce - Foursome, a quartet.
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns - The Tsar's Bride 116-118 —Quartet in Act II. " " " 168-171 —Sextet in Act III (cf. extract, Ex. 283 ).
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - The Tsar's Bride 169 —sextet. " " " 117 quartet.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - If this method is adopted for the quartet of voices, Sopr.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - “I’ll soon be the only fancy-free maiden of our old quartet,” thought Anne, drowsily.
— from Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery
