Angels: String Quartet No. 4

Angels for String Quartet by Joan Tower was composed in 2008 and premiered on August 31 2008 in Angel Fire, NM, performed by the Miami String Quartet.

Angels is my fourth quartet — amediumI really love. In fact, when Ida Kavafian asked me what I wanted to write for the Festival, I immediately said string quartet. Having written three prior quartets and gotten to travel extensively around the world ofquartets, Ihave come to love the way string quartets are so deeply creative and passionate about the music they play. They are really like four 'composers' at work.

Angels is about 18 minutes long in one movementand isdedicated to the people who helped my younger brother George survive a major stroke this year. They include my sister Ellen, a former student of mine (Erin), a doctor (Dr. Stenehjem), a nurse (Courtney) and two real estateagents(Ann and Dale). These are caring people whose generosity of spirit and love of humanity make them very special 'angels.' I am thrilled that the Miami Quartet is giving the premiere of Angels. - JoanTower