Origins – Williamsport

Folk music has long been a source of inspiration and a defining identity for many composers. Brahms often wove Hungarian influences into his works, while Ginastera celebrated his Argentinian heritage with compositions like his String Quartet No. 1, bursting with the relentless rhythms of the malambo, a spirited Argentine folk dance associated with gauchos. Ginastera’s student, Piazzolla, boldly fused classical music with the evocative sounds of tango, sparking controversy–most notably during the premiere of his Buenos Aires Symphony in Three Movements, where the inclusion of two bandoneons in a traditional symphony orchestra incited a riot in the audience. Continuing this tradition, acclaimed American composer Jessie Montgomery draws on American folk idioms in Strum for string quartet, layering rhythmic and harmonic refrains to create a deeply textured and resonant work.