The Chicago String Quartet, in residence at DePaul University, will debut a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Perle, one of the university’s most distinguished graduates, at the New Music DePaul concert May 14.

The piece, "Brief Encounters," Perle’s ninth string quartet, was commissioned by School of Music supporter Rosemary Schnell to celebrate DePaul’s centennial. The concert, part of the New Music DePaul professional contemporary music series, will feature an all-Perle program including "For Piano and Winds," "Critical Moments," "Serenade No. 3" and "Wind Quintet No. 1." The free, public event begins at 8 p.m. at the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden Ave. Susan Cook, saxophone, Mary Stolper, flute and Bill Cernota, cello, also will perform

A resident of New York, Perle is expected to return to Chicago to attend the New Music DePaul performance and the DePaul Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Concert May 12 at Symphony Center. One of the three works the orchestra will perform is the Chicago premiere of Perle’s "Sinfonietta I."

A composer, educator, music theorist and scholar, Perle--who turns 84 in May--graduated from the School of Music in 1938. Among his awards are the Pulitzer Prize, won for music composition, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, both received in 1986. He is the author of the 1990 book, "The Listening Composer." His music has been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minnesota, New York Philarmonic, San Francisco, Baltimore and BBC symphonies.

Perle began writing the new string quartet in 1997. In an interview published in the DePaul School of Music magazine "Con Brio," Perle said the 39-minute piece is unusual because it consists of 15 short movements instead of the usual four or five. It also is distinctive because most of the composer’s past string quartets were titled by number and this one has a name. He said he named it "Brief Encounters" because it suits the structure of the piece. Perle said he is delighted that the work will be performed by the Chicago String Quartet, which played "very beautifully" his fifth quartet at a concert on campus in 1997.

The quartet members and New Music DePaul series director George Flynn said they are equally thrilled to be presenting Perle’s new quartet. "We’re excited to be performing a commissioned work of an internationally known composer who is also one of the best known alumni of the School of Music," said quartet violinist Stefan Hersh, "We played his Quartet No. 5 last season and feel we have a real affinity for his work."

"George Perle has graced us with insightful essays on 20th century music as well as theory and compositional method, but most of all with his strong and elegant music that compels on a moment-to-moment basis, and satisfies on the broad architectural level," said Flynn.

The annual New Music DePaul series features performances by distinguished guest artists, faculty members from the School of Music and its Community Music Program, and DePaul alumni who play professionally with prestigious area orchestras and ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera Orchestra. The series presents an eclectic mix of music by established international, Midwest and DePaul faculty composers. For more information about the concert and other DePaul music performances, call 773/325-7260.