Circular Lines
(2016)

Stephan Thelen
(b. 1959)

Composed for
50 For The Future:
The Kronos Learning
Repertoire

Artist Statement

“Circular Lines is an energetic, propulsive, and highly rhythmic piece in one movement that belongs to the post-minimalistic tradition of tonal and rhythmic music that aims to create maximum effect with minimum means. The main idea of the quartet is based on a ‘3 against 4 against 5’ polyrhythm where one instrument plays in 3/8, one in 4/8 and one in 5/8 while the fourth instrument (the ‘wild card’) either plays melodies on top of this continuum or supports one of the rhythmic layers. During the piece, every instrument has several opportunities to take each one of the four roles.

“During the period in which the piece was composed, the dominant theme in Europe was the refugee crisis and how the selfish governments and people of Europe completely failed to find a compassionate way to deal with the unimaginable suffering of the refugees. The fact that I was constantly thinking about the crisis has surely found its way into the piece. Especially haunting for me was the image of people who would rather risk their lives getting into a ramshackled boat heading towards an unknown and potentially hostile future than stay in their home country. Yet still, despite all the suffering, many maintain hope and optimism, a fact which should come through in the interpretation of the piece.”

Stephan Thelen