String Quartet No. 11 "Reykjavik"

In March 2023 I heard a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra of Górecki’s Sorrowful Songs, and it reminded me of Barber’s famous Adagio for Strings. At the time I was writing my Eleventh String Quartet, and it moved me to write a piece inspired by these two emotional and lyrical works. The first movement is entitled ‘Long Night’ in honor of the long winter nights in Reykjavík, I was also thinking forward to the many challenges that lie ahead of us. In addition, I was anticipating the premiere in Reykjavík and was listening to traditional Icelandic music.

I heard some wonderful singing where the men and women played off of each other, and I wrote the final movement thinking of a springtime celebration after a dark winter. —Elena Ruehr