Fantasy and Dance for String Quart

Recording from the premiere performance by Arneis String Quartet, Boston Composers’ Coalition concert.

            This string quartet draws influence from the musical traditions of the Uyghur people. The Uyghur people are a Turkish ethnic group that predominately lives in the XinJiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Music and dance is an important aspect to their culture and their traditional music is often lively and rhythmic. I particularly enjoy the sounds of their music and hope to explore them in this string quartet.  Fantasy and Dance is not an exact imitation of their style; rather, I hope to transfer the same vibrant energy to the string quartet ensemble.

            This piece was composed for the Arneis String Quartet in February 2014. Future performances of this piece are expected in March during the TUTTI New Music Festival as well as the Hartford Women Composers Festival.