Royal Quartet

Nathan Hawk’s new mallet quartet is a pleasing intermediate-level work described by the composer as “a vehicle for performers to explore emotion and musicality.” There is certainly a lot of room for musicality, as along with the written dynamics there are opportunities for performers to give the frequent melodic lines a sense of musical direction and shape.

“Royal Quartet” has a tonal minimalist quality to it that will undoubtedly please a large number of listeners and performers. The music follows a standard fast-slow-fast structure, utilizing descriptive words including “contemplative” and “energized” to help set the proper mood.

Each of the parts requires four-mallet facility, with the Vibraphone 2 part being the least “notey,” therefore potentially making it suitable for a slightly less advanced player than the other parts. Each performer needs to be adept at counting in 7/8, with the changing time signatures sounding, according to the composer, “free of mathematical restraint.” Because the groove continues mostly unabated throughout the piece, “Royal Quartet” is an ideal work to perform unconducted.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 5, October 2022