Royal Quartet by Nathan Hawk

Composer Nathan Hawk describes Royal Quartet as “a vehicle for performers to explore emotion and musicality. It takes the players through a melancholic journey, ebbing and flowing subtly to give listeners an intricate soundtrack for their thoughts and feelings.”

The piece, scored entirely for mallet instruments, drives forward with an expressive energy. Grooves in 4/4 frequently alternate with 16th note passages in 7/8, leading to an engaging mix of musical ideas. Calmer moments see the vibraphone voices featured in a lyrical fashion, while the “moto perpetuo” of the marimbas provides a wave-like feel. Using every 4-mallet technique in the book, this work provides the opportunity for intermediate-advanced quartets to display a mastery of chamber musicianship skills. A wonderful addition to recitals or contest repertoire!