String Quartet No. 1 (Ives)


String Quartet No. 1 is one of the most studied works by composer Charles Ives. The piece is composed for the standard string quartet of two violins, viola, and cello. The piece has four movements:

Music

The first movement is fugal in form and is considered separate from the rest because of its difference in tone. This piece is also found as the third movement of Ives' Fourth Symphony, arranged for full orchestra. Historians agree that the fugal subject is based on "Missionary hymn" and the fugal countersubject is based on "Coronation".
The second movement is in ABA form. The A section is said to be based on the hymn "Beulah Land", which is quite apparent if the tune is familiar to the listener. The B section is said to be based on "Shining Shore", which is also used as the B section in movements III and IV. This use of the same theme or melody in several movements is an example of cyclic form. Cyclic form is meant to unify the piece as a whole by using similar themes in several movements.
The primary theme of the third movement is said to be based on the hymn "Nettleton", and is a perfect example of how Ives changes hymns to make them his own and develop them in different ways. Ives took the "Nettleton" hymn and changed the ending so he could develop it throughout the A section. The B section, as mentioned above, is believed to be based on an inverted version of "Shining Shore".
The fourth movement is one of Ives' first uses of polymeter: composing in over time. The main theme is said to be based on "Coronation" as well as "Stand up for Jesus". "Shining Shore" is said to connect the two hymns as a B section. The piece ends on a plagal cadence, reinforcing the piece's heavy use of hymns..