String quartet no. 1
"the christological constellatioN"

Movements I and II composed October, 2012 - March, 2013

Duration: c. 40'
Instrumentation: 2Vln. Vla. Vcl.

In his theological book The Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church Hans Urs Von Balthasar (1905-1988) explores some of the reasons for “anti-Romanism” – a widespread hostility toward the Papacy – in today’s world.  He argues that the Petrine ministry of the Pope is a crucial element of concrete unity in the Church, but must be viewed as part of a larger constellation of persons that surrounded Jesus when He instituted the Church.  In this piece each movement is one person in this constellation.

-NATHAN WILSON BALL