Jessie Montgomery (b 1981) is one of today's most relevant and important interpreters of 21st-century American sound and experience. She has been involved with Community MusicWorks, a Providence, Rhode Island community outreach music education program, as well as the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based nonprofit that supports young African American and Latinx string players. Her music interweaves classical music with elements of vernacular music, improvisation, poetry, and social consciousness, and has been performed by such ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, A Far Cry, San Francisco Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony.
Montgomery's ''Strum'' takes its name from the strumming pizzacato called for throughout the work, which serves as the rhythmic underpinning of this highly energetic piece. The rhythmic patterns lay the foundation for the folk-inspired melodies to weave in and out of the texture. It is scored for string quartet and may be performed as a string quintet with optional double bass. Score and parts included. Suitable for advanced players.
