Program Notes — July 5, 2026
St. James Catholic Church, Plains, MT
Haydn String Quartet Op. 76, No. 4
Performed by Owen Cromwell, Grace M. Alexander, Akseli Mende, and Matt Udry
Composed in 1797, Joseph Haydn's String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 76, No. 4, is nicknamed the Sunrise Quartet after the first violin's opening melody, which gradually rises above the accompanying voices like the sun appearing over the horizon. Haydn gives each instrument an active, conversational role, allowing themes and ideas to pass naturally between the four players. This equal partnership among the instruments became a defining characteristic of the string quartet and strongly influenced later composers such as Mozart and Beethoven.
Prokofiev Sonata for solo violin in D major Op. 115
Performed by Owen Cromwell
Unlike most works for unaccompanied violin, Sergei Prokofiev's Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 115, was not originally intended for a single performer. Composed in 1947, it was written so that it could be played either by one violinist or by an entire group of violinists in unison, an idea inspired by Prokofiev's experience hearing Bach and Handel performed this way.
Although it is now heard most often as a solo work, Prokofiev imagined the sonata as music that could also be shared by a community of violinists, making it a rare example of a piece equally suited to individual performance and collective music-making
Ivory 'Lullaby' String Quartet
Performed by Owen Cromwell, Grace M. Alexander, Akseli Mende, and Matt Udry
“Lullaby for String Quartet takes quotations from the timeless children’s lullaby tune. The inspiration for the piece comes from early morning drives past the mountains in Western Montana and is meant to invoke the childlike wonder one experiences when seeing them, as well as an unbridled (maybe even naive) sense of adventure. This piece was originally written for the Høyde Quartet at St. Olaf College and was premiered by two of the musicians at Knapweed this year: Owen Cromwell and Grace Alexander. I am so grateful for their generosity to let me sit in on many rehearsals, and answer my endless questions about string playing.”
-Samuel Ivory
Kogan Kaddish for solo horn
Performed by Dena Levy
Lev Kogan's Kaddish takes its inspiration from the Jewish prayer of the same name. Although often associated with mourning, the Kaddish is not a prayer about death, but one that affirms faith, sanctifies God's name, and ends with a prayer for peace. Kogan, who devoted much of his career to studying and arranging Jewish music after immigrating to Israel, captures the reflective spirit of the prayer in a simple, lyrical work that invites quiet contemplation rather than dramatic display.
Sheng Seven Tunes Heard in China
Performed by Matt Udry
Written for cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 1995, Bright Sheng's Seven Tunes Heard in China draws on folk melodies from different regions of China, including Tibet, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Qinghai. Rather than simply arranging these traditional tunes, Sheng uses them as the starting point for his own musical language, transforming them while preserving their distinctive character and spirit. Inspired by composers such as Béla Bartók, the work celebrates the richness and diversity of Chinese folk traditions through a contemporary voice that is deeply rooted in cultural memory.
Mozart K. 581 Clarinet Quintet
Performed by Owen Cromwell, Grace M. Alexander, Akseli Mende, Matt Udry, and Raphael B. Zimmerman
Composed in 1789, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581 was written for the virtuoso clarinetist Anton Stadler, a close friend of the composer. One of the earliest major chamber works composed specifically for the clarinet, the quintet helped establish the instrument as an expressive voice in chamber music. Rather than treating the clarinet as a soloist accompanied by strings, Mozart creates an intimate dialogue between all five instruments, allowing the clarinet's warm, lyrical voice to blend seamlessly with the quartet.
Mozart 12 Duos K. 487
Performed by Matt Udry and Raphael B. Zimmerman
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 12 Duos, K. 487 are among his most playful works. Likely written for informal music-making, the short pieces are full of musical jokes, lively exchanges, and moments where the two players seem to tease, imitate, and challenge one another. Originally composed for two horns, they translate remarkably well to clarinet and cello.
Danish String Quartet (shine you no more)
Performed by Owen Cromwell, Grace M. Alexander, Akseli Mende, and Matt Udry
Shine You No More is a traditional folk tune arranged by the Danish String Quartet, from their album Last Leaf. Drawing on folk traditions from Scandinavia and the British Isles, the arrangement treats a simple melody with care and imagination, unfolding naturally through changing textures and subtle interplay between the four parts. What begins as a straightforward tune gradually opens up into something richer and more layered, showing how traditional music and string quartet writing can speak the same expressive language.