Ivan Jevtić

Piano Quartet

The three-movement Piano Quartet unfolds a gripping contrast between rhythmic energy and inner contemplation. The first movement (Con rigore) begins with a jarring fortissimo: hammered pizzicati from the strings, percussive piano, and constantly shifting meters. It is tense, biting music, driven by irregular rhythmic patterns that leave the listener no respite. The second movement (Lento assai) forms the intimate heart of the work. A long, floating melody, marked perdendosi and sempre legato, builds to a molto agitato climax before receding into an extreme whisper—a moment of poignant contemplation, entirely in keeping with the dedication: "In memory of my dear mother, Lepa." The finale (Allegro assai) sets the machinery in motion once more: virtuosic piano cascades, glissandi, marcato phrasing, four instruments in a brilliant, jubilant run leading to a radiant conclusion. Premiered in 2021 by the Belgrade Piano Quartet, the Piano Quartet is a demanding and generous work in which the rigor of the composition never hinders its momentum.