Six Michtam— String Quartet

For String Quartet
Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello

Duration: 6 minutes

Notes:
Six Michtam is a theme and variations commissioned by David Stern and the Sarasa Ensemble. Stern wrote a short piece— a tender 12-bar melody— entitled Psalm following the death of his father. As this melody was quite personal and sentimental to Stern, he commissioned a theme and variations for string quartet to elaborate on the musical gestures and ideas.
Six Michtam is the result of Mayz’s deep engagement with Stern’s melodic material. Six variations are heard throughout the piece.

As is written in the preface of the piece:

michtam \ ˈmikˌtam \ מִכְתָּם

found in the headings of Psalms 16 and 56–60 in the Hebrew Bible;
the word perhaps refers to an item that a person carries with her at all times;
these psalms are thought to contain concepts and ideas that are pertinent at every stage and setting throughout life;
some believe the word is applied to a psalm to denote its musical character; some translate the word to mean golden