The “Triptych for string quartet” was written in Santorini in July 2008. The work does not follow the classical form of a string quartet, as the three parts that make it up are heard attacca, meaning continuously without distinct breaks.

It is characterized by the use of a theme, which is continuously developed in such a way that it conveys to the listener a range of different emotions and colors, while simultaneously maintaining a sense of unity. It starts with broad melodic lines and a rather slow and imposing tempo.

Following this, secondary melodic and rhythmic patterns occur that clash at certain points with the initial theme and return persistently at several points in the piece, sometimes intact and sometimes varied. In the end, there is a complete deconstruction of the persistent first theme through an intense rhythmic motif.

Konstantinos Grigoriou