Four Musical Proofs and a Conjecture (2017)
(Part of "The Music of Proof", co-created with Marcus du Sautoy)

Four Musical Proofs and a Conjecture is a collection of miniatures for string quartet: five short movements, each associated with a different mathematical idea, each a poetic translation of a mathematical idea into sound. Direct quotations from string quartets by Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert provide clear arrival and departure points in the music. 

The work arose out of a collaboration – The Music of Proof – between composer Emily Howard and mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, an exploration of different forms of mathematical proof through the creation of music. 

The work can be performed either as a continuous string quartet in five movements, or as a presentation in its original New Scientist Live format: before a performance of each movement, du Sautoy spoke about the mathematical idea and Howard spoke about how she had responded to it creatively. 

Written for the Piatti String Quartet, Four Musical Proofs and a Conjecture was commissioned by the Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust. The Music of Proof collaboration between Emily Howard and Marcus du Sautoy, and the world premiere performance of Four Musical Proofs and a Conjecture, were supported by New Scientist. 

Emily Howard and Marcus du Sautoy, 2019