Richard Ayres’ Three Small Pieces for String Quartet each have distinct characters that illustrate the composer’s vivid imagination and skill for combining energetic, touching and sometimes wild music. The first piece is a short tribute to the Romanian singer Maria Tanase, a long forgotten performer who was once a star in her country. The second is a rough, fast and folk-like section in 11/16 time and the third, subtitled “Countess Eva von Spendu (on a horse) gallops through the forest (pausing ...

I. Tanase's Eyes - II. - III. "Countess Eva von Spendu (on a horse) gallops through the forest (fausing four times to contemplate natural splendor)"