Works for a String Quartet
“Death and the Maiden” is one of Franz Schubert’s most gripping and emotional works, written during a time of personal turmoil. The quartet’s name is inspired by Schubert’s earlier song in which a young woman pleads with Death to spare her life. Death responds with a chilling calmness, assuring her that he is a friend who will bring peace. Through its dramatic contrasts, haunting melodies, and moments of tenderness, the quartet captures the tension between fear and acceptance, making it a profound meditation on mortality and the human condition.
Program
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Source Code for string quartet
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH The Art of Fugue
7. Contrapunctus 7 a 4 per Augment et Diminut
FRANZ SCHUBERT Quartet for Strings in D minor, D. 810, “Death and the Maiden”
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Join the Carmel Bach Festival for its 88th season—Dialogues—running July 12-26, 2025. Musicians will explore musical conversations across time via works such as Bach’s Mass in B Minor and The Art of the Fugue, Mozart’s Requiem and “Jupiter” symphony, Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse,” and featured works by Stravinsky and Jessie Montgomery. With 40 events to choose from, there is something for everyone! Browse the full season lineup, purchase tickets, and find information on free community events at www.bachfestival.org.
