Quadrants Vol. 5

Chester by William Billings was the runaway hit of the American Revolutionary War and the unofficial national anthem. No wonder, his vigorous words and music inspired the colonials to act courageously against injustice and to feel God was on their side. While those days are gone, many forms of tyranny still call for action and sometimes require extra inspiration to keep our spirits up. In this atmosphere I sat down to write a string quartet; this rollicking good tune echoed in my head. The plan became instantly clear: use each of the song’s four phrases as the departure point for one movement. Also, feature in each movement one of the quartet instruments. What could be more democratic?

A straightforward introduction, entitled simply “Chester,” presents the short melody in an energetic rendition. Next, “Elegy” showcases the viola, reflecting the tragedy of conflict and brutality when tyrants threaten to “shake their iron rod” in Billings’ phrase. With wandering chromatic harmony, there’s a perturbed atmosphere. The next movement “Blessings” relieves the tension. Mostly a bright pastorale, it’s a like a folk-song for the second violin. It seeks to reflect the beauty and abundance of the New World landscape as well as its unspoiled, redemptive qualities. But this section ends reflective and unsettled; oppression persists. Next comes a movement arising from the phrase “We’ll fear them not; we trust in God.” It starts as a fugue in march time, an image of confident challengers advancing to do right. After the three lower parts parade along, however, the first violin reveals a different dimension, a spiritual space. Hence the title “Divinity” and the introduction of quicksilver motifs like flashes of light. The movement arrives at a celestial, uplifting end. And then the quartet springs into “Action,” the last movement. The instruments unify with running figures to recall the introduction and launch a solo turn for the cello. A relaxed section follows, expounding on the final, confident phrase of “Chester.” Energy again gathers the players in an expansive restatement of the tune with all parts on an equal footing. Thus fortified, the piece returns to unified runs and an echo of the beginning for a rousing coda.

Billings wrote of oppressors, let them “shake their … rod,” i.e. threaten us, but “we’ll fear them not.” Now I use his words a bit differently: may we give tyrants cause to tremble, wherever they are found.

– Christopher J. Hoh, Arlington VA, June 2019