Youngest-ever string quartet composer

[DaveF]

Heard about this on the BBC news this morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXx-p9b2mLQ

As usual with such extremely precocious composers, one doesn't really know what to think, although the piece seems to be bursting with ideas, rather haphazardly put together (although basically a sonata movement).  That's OK - you can learn to put things together, but you can't learn to have ideas.  And it was composed in response to the pandemic, so the little fellow is already taking inspiration from human endeavour and tragedy - in C minor!  The whole thing reminded me of watching a 6-year-old on Christmas Day, tearing open presents, looking at them for a second, then moving on to the next one... except this 6-year-old is doing it with melody and harmony.  And what a splendid name for a composer - Apollo!  Won't forget him in a hurry.

[Symphonic Addict]

Another composer who wrote remarkable string quartets at a very early age was the Spanish Juan Cristóstomo de Arriaga. Three utterly fabulous works with much personality.