Identity
of the Zwischenspiel
The work consists of six movements with a "Zwischenspiel"
(intermezzo) between the fifth and sixth movements.
This Zwischenspiel (of completely desolate and serene character,
forming a large contrast with the previous movements of the
piece) appears to be at the Golden Section point in the composition.
The
Zwischenspiel consists of three sections. The two outer (first
and third) sections are built up by chromatic clusters and function
as independent sound. The middle section consist of a repetition
of two diatonic clusters.
Cluster 1 is built up by two bunches, each consisting of three
minor seconds. The interval between those two bunches is a major
third (B-flat, D). The interval seperating the two bunches
of minor seconds in Cluster 2 is a major second (B, C-sharp).

The
first cluster is written in a way that fits the string-instruments;
all four play an individual perfect fifth. Rihm uses this way
of writing chords or clusters more often in this piece. For
instance:
The middle section becomes independent sound as soon
as the composer prescribes: "Asynchron werden" (become
non-synchronized).
If looked at the independant voices one could say every instrument
repeats playing an interval of a minor second. The first note
could be regarded as an appogiatura (I will use this term since
traditionally it is mainly a melodic non-harmonic ornament;
I could have used such terms seufzer, anticipation, suspension,
auxiliary- or passing note) leaning on the second one, which
is the solution.
Anticipation, or tension, and resolution, or at least the expectation
of resolution brought about, are important characteristics in
the rest of the piece. The near absence of tension is what makes
the Zwischenspiel so suddenly different from the rest.