String Quartet No. 8

This string quartet was written for listeners of all ages. The piece consists of six short movements with each portraying a different insect. Programmatic in nature. Contents: I. Spider Swing The insect family is having a party. Spider is the rather controlling butler who runs around getting the house ready. II. Dragonfly Flit Dragonfly owns the house and is getting ready: putting on make up, fluffing hair, and arranging things in the house. Spider follows and fixes things back. Grasshopper, who is Dragonfly's partner, is congenially helping out. III. Wasp Stomp Wasp is an uninvited guest who arrives at the house. Dragonfly and Grasshopper and Spider try to get Wasp to leave, but just as Wasp exits Wasp turns around and comes back. After some effort from Dragonfly, Spider and Grasshopper, Wasp flies away. IV. Bumblebee Boogie Lady Bug and Bumblebee arrive at the party. They are effortlessly cool. Champagne is served. V. Lady Bug Waltz Lady Bug sings a song and everyone joins in. VI. Grasshopper Polka Grasshopper leads a fast dance with Dragonfly, Lady Bug and Bumblebee, with Spider hovering in the background. Wasp makes a brief appearance. At the end, they all fall down from exhaustion.