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Greetings!
I have already critiqued the first and second movements to your Piano Quartet, and in hearing them again, I am reminded how well put together they are. The restrained drama of the first movement leads to the subtle emotion of the second. And now we see it brought to a conclusion with the fierce nobility of the finale.
First off, the thematic material for your finale, after listening a few times, becomes apparent how it descends from the earlier movements. The quarter note followed by two eighth notes is reminiscent of certain passages in both movements. But it forms a unifying whole for your last movement, all of whose themes seems to be based on this idea. This kind of cohesive whole makes for a more convincing argument, and you have definitely done a good job here.
The String writing is interesting if not terribly difficult. Is this piece meant for an amateur group? Apart from a few pizzicato sections that move with remarkable celerity, nothing seems like it would be beyond the abilities of a good High School section.
The piano line was far more interesting in the first two movements. Here we find a slavish dependence on block chords and parallel octaves. While both can be used to great effect (for instance, Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C#-Minor), here they just sound clunky after a while. I recommend using them sparingly, and breaking up these block chords with either arpeggios or other figurations. Obviously you need them in a few places, but in the central sections and closing sections of the piece you might benefit from more variety.
Now, keep in mind, I like this piece! You have sections of soft tenderness, and others of dramatic insistence. The thematic material is interesting and the multiple variations keep my ear guessing what you will present next. I even thought I heard a quasi-fugue in there at one point. But I think compared to the first movement the piano writing is lackluster and does not make for as compelling a close to the Quartet as you would like.
Good luck with this work!
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