Program Notes:

“CHAS was written in memory of Charles “Chas” Wetherbee. The piece is based on the four letters of Chas' name: C - B (H in German)-A-Eb (Es or S in German).

The piece starts with Chas' name, followed by a theme that I call the "wailing of grief" theme, played first by the viola, then by all members of the quartet leading to a loud and violent climax. Chas' name is called again, now in a very high register played with harmonics. The last measures repeat the note E, descending five octaves from E7 in the first violin to E2 in the cello. The repetition of the note E is an allusion to Chas' last name that repeats the letter E (Wetherbee). The five-octave descent is an allusion to "descending into the earth" i.e. passing.”

~ Reza Vali