Kurtag 6 Moments Musicaux Op. 44 for String Quartet

Kurtág, winner of the 2006 Grawemeyer Award in music composition, began composition of this work, his fourth string quartet, in 1999, and completed it in 2005. In this suite of 6 movements Kurtág borrows music from other compositions, particularly from his lengthy Játékok for piano. 6 Moments Musicaux was premiered in February of 2006 in Bordeaux, France, during a celebration of the composer's 80th birthday, performed by the Keller Quartet.