Wilson, Ian: Alluvio - String Quartet No. 15

Product Information

• UPC/Item Number: RICL00024000
• ISMN: 9790570028924 / 979-0570028924
• Product Type: Musical Score and Performance Parts
• Genre: Contemporary Chamber Music
• Instrumentation: String Quartet
• Difficulty Level: Grade 3
• Publisher: Ricordi

Overview

Ian Wilson’s Alluvio is a powerful and evocative string quartet that takes its inspiration from the severe floods that struck Cork City in early 2014. In this emotionally charged work, Wilson offers a musical reflection on the destructive and transformative forces of water, using the quartet to chart the flood’s evolving impact — from rising tension and chaos to aftermath and renewal.

Through his signature contemporary language, Wilson crafts a vivid soundscape marked by dynamic contrasts, dense textures, and moments of stark stillness. The instruments often surge and recede like water itself, evoking the unpredictability and emotional weight of the natural disaster. Extended techniques, rhythmic instability, and layered counterpoint create a sense of unease and momentum, challenging performers to embody both precision and expressive depth. At its core, Alluvio is more than a response to a specific event — it is a meditation on nature’s power, vulnerability, and resilience. The quartet becomes a vessel through which these themes are explored in depth, making Alluvio a striking and deeply resonant contribution to the contemporary string quartet repertoire.

Product Features

• Format: Full Score and Performance Parts
• Ensemble Configuration: String Quartet (Two Violins, Viola, Cello)
• Difficulty Level: Grade 3 (Intermediate to Advanced)
• Suitable For: Professional chamber ensembles, music conservatories, advanced string performers

Interesting Facts

• Compositional Context: Part of Wilson's ongoing exploration of string quartet composition
• Musical Language: Demonstrates contemporary approaches to instrumental interaction
• Performance Challenge: Requires nuanced interpretation of environmental and emotional narratives

Publishers

Published by Ricordi, a prestigious international music publishing house known for supporting contemporary classical music.

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