Quickstep

Dating from the time of the American Revolution, quicksteps were dances played by fifes and drums for the entertainment of the soldiers and civilians.  This rollicking arrangement opens with the lower strings using percussive col legno which evokes the martial quality of the snares of a drum.  Starting with the string basses, each instrument emerges playing lively tunes.  After everyone has joined this energetic romp, the piece quietly ends, as it began, with col legno echoes.