The string quartet’s texture: an analytical and quantitative approach. Second part: applications

Abstract

What is the “conversation à quatre?” How can the string quartet’s texture be defined
and be assessed? These questions give rise to considerable debate, which is set forth
in two papers.
The first paper, published in 2005 by Musurgia XII/3, sets forth an analytical method
for defining the texture used in string quartet literature: a classification, followed by
a system of statistical assessment, which is then put into place for each determined
category.
In the present paper, this method is applied systematically to a number of different
string quartets. This paper, as well as the first series of results issuing from this
research, gives important information on a subject hitherto rarely studied. These
results show the main statistical facts, thus making it possible to grasp the most
outstanding features of the string quartet’s texture. This study, once again, questions
some of the stereotypes concerning the “conversation à quatre”.