Dances with Quarks

Celebrating the tiny subatomic particles that are, in essence, the building blocks of matter, this whimsical and introspective piece is divided into three sections: the main "dance" theme; a middle section that is markedly smoother and more melodic; and the return of the dance theme in an augmented fashion. The meter is free and constantly evolving, reminiscent of the chaos of the microverse but at the same time evoking the order that emerges from that randomness. A persistent dialogue between the bassoon and strings illustrates the myriad colors in the universe as well as in music.