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Score title
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String Quartet No. 4: "Nrsimha"
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Composer
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Akira Nishimura
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Date
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2007
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Instrumentation
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String quartet (violin (2), viola, cello)
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Program note
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It has already been 10 years since I wrote my third string quartet. At working on the fourth quartet, I thought anew of the excellent expression of Arditti String Quartet and I wanted to make up a work with a plot in a different way. The story of "Nrsimha," an Avatara of Vishnu, immediately came to my mind. I really like the story so I had once written a piano piece based on it (Avatara for Piano . No.4 Nrshimha). This time again I decided to deal with the tale for the quartet.
The Story
The Devil was vengeful against Vishnu who killed his brother and asked Lord Brahma to give him magical body that was never slain by any human being and animal. The Devil became so angry when he knew that his son was devoted himself to Vishnu. He tried to kill his own son. But the son explained greatness and omnipresence of Vishnu to his father and attempted to convert him saying that Vishnu was everywhere, even in a nearby pillar, too. The Devil was so upset that he kicked the pillar. Suddenly Vishnu in the form of half man/half lion, Nrsimha, appeared from the pillar and tore the Devil by his claws. As the Devil could not be killed by any human and animal, Vishnu became Nrsimha which is between a human and a lion.
The work consists of four movements played without a break.
I. The Devil
II. Vishnu and The Son of The Devil
III. The Devil and His Son
IV. Nrsimha
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, the work was commissioned by Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation.
Akira Nishimura
Akira Nishimura
