Quartet in the Forest - Flexible Quartet

When the composer visited Hokkaido, a tourist shop had a display of dolls made of fallen twigs, nuts, leaves, etc. The dolls held different musical instruments made of twigs and the like, and were placed in circles on one table, as if the forest spirit were coming to life and making music. It seemed like a magical sight that held life within.

The music depicts a fantasy-like world: a performance of small forest spirits drawing various animals, insects, and plants of the woods to gather and warmly watch and enjoy their concert.

(Hayato Hirose)