String Quartet No. 2, ''Musica Instrumentalis'' (1997)Scherer, Barrymore Laurence (2007). ''A History of American Classical Music'', p.221. . is a string quartet by

Aaron Jay Kernis Aaron Jay Kernis (born January 15, 1960) is a Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning American composer serving as a member of the Yale School of Music faculty. Kernis spent 15 years as the music advisor to the Minnesota Orchestra and as Dir ...

(b. 1960), inspired by

renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

and

baroque dance Baroque dance is dance of the Baroque era (roughly 1600–1750), closely linked with Baroque music, theatre, and opera. English country dance The majority of surviving choreographies from the period are English country dances, such as those i ...

s, composed for the Lark Quartet and awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1998, with a special citation to

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

. His first quartet being named ''Musica celestis'': The piece was premiered by the Lark Quartet in January 1998 at

Merkin Concert Hall Merkin Hall is a 449-seat concert hall in Manhattan, New York City. The hall, named in honor of Hermann and Ursula Merkin, is part of the Kaufman Music Center, a complex that includes the Lucy Moses School, a community arts school, and the Speci ...

.Elizabeth A. Brennan, Elizabeth C. Clarage (1999). ''Who's Who of Pulitzer Prize Winners'', p.453. . It has been recorded by the Lark Quartet and Jasper String Quartet. It was commissioned by the Lark Quartet by the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center in New York City, Ohio University, and The

Schubert Club The Schubert Club, established in 1882, is a non-profit arts organization in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that promotes the art of music, particularly recital music. Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments The Club operates the Sc ...

of St. Paul, with additional funds from

Chamber Music America Chamber Music America (CMA) is an American non-profit organization that provides small ensemble professionals with access to a variety of professional development, networking, and funding resources. CMA's regular initiatives include grants, awards, ...

. It is dedicated to Linda Hoeschler "in gratitude for her friendship, generosity, and support, and in honor of her perpetual faith in the creative spirit."

Sources

External links

Aaron Jay Kernis : String Quartet No. 2, 'musica instrumentalis'
, ''G. Schirmer Inc.''

, ''CoriglianoQuartet.com''. {{Authority control Compositions by Aaron Jay Kernis 1997 compositions Kernis 2 Pulitzer Prize for Music-winning works Contemporary classical compositions