This string quartet is a reflection on emperors and kings, their works, their passions, and the inevitable passge of time. Specifically, it follows the career of Artashes who ruled Armenia about twenty-two hundred years ago(190-160 BC), founded the Armenian capital, Artashat, and abducted his beautiful bride Satenik. The composer was struck by a 19th century painting of Artashes' funeral with its grand and seemingly endless cortege, the wailingthrong lining the road, the deceased king borne in s...